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The eartips are listed in alphabetical order.

Latest Additions

March 2024 additions: SoundMAGIC Silicone Eartips (Pumpkin-shape), ICE CLEAR Earphone Plug, Azla SednaEarfit XELASTEC II, Azla SednaEarfit Max ASMR (Standard), Azla SednaEarfit Foamax (Standard), INfiter Variety Dot IE45 Short for TWS (Dow Corning silicone and graphene), INfiter Variety Dot IE45 Short for TWS (Dow Corning silicone), Nfiter Variety Dot IE45Pro Short for TWS (Black), Nfiter Variety Dot IE45Pro Short for TWS (Clear), INfiter WS38 for TWS (Clear white), INfiter WS43 for TWS (Clear blue).

February 2024 additions: Azla SednaEarfit ORIGIN for In-Ear Monitor & TWS, Jomo Audio ONYX Double Flanges Premium Silicone Eartips (For IEMs), Penon Audio Liqueur Silicone Eartips (Black), Penon Audio Liqueur Silicone Eartips (Orange).

January 2024 addition: Z Reviews Render Eartips.

Testing Parameters and Disclaimer

The following tests of silicone eartips are based on my evaluations and listening observations. All test are conducted in a quiet listening environment. Fit is ensured such that eartips are properly inserted and seated into the ear canal with good seal. I have to elaborate, your experiences may vary.

Associated equipment list: Sources – Luxury & Precision W4, Questyle M15 and Sony WM-A105. IEMs – 7Hz Timeless, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, 7Hz Sonus, Tanchjim Oxygen and Moondrop Blessing 2.

Disclaimer: All scores are subjected to change without notice. I may update or add new scores every few months when I acquire new eartips.

NOTE: I don’t have favorite eartips but if I want neutrality, SpinFits CP-145 is my first pick usually. For IEM tuning, I always use reversed KZ Starline, follow by stock eartips from the manufacturer. 

A

Acoustune AEX07

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.00

For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange. The AEX07 sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Improved overall tonal texture and clarity over the latter. Note weight is is denser than AET07a however it sounds less congested than AET07. A good middle-ground between its two predecessors. My new favorite Acoustune eartip.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AET06
Bore size: double flange, regular
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 5.0
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 5
Similar to AET08 in many ways but with an even tighter bass punch. Vocal is bodied and three-dimensional
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AET06a (Enhanced comfort)
Bore size: double flange, regular
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: firm and pliable (slightly softer than AET06a)
Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 5
Virtually identical to AET06 with a hair bit cleaner and more sparkling upper-midrange and treble. Feels softer than AET06 thus less pressure inside the ears.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AET07
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange. Similar to SpinFit CP-145 in many ways but with better bass texture and vocal presence.
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Acoustune AET07a
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
Slight improvement over Acoustune AET07 in texture, detail, tonal purity and vocal clarity.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Acoustune AET08
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 5
For vocal, midrange and solid bass
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Acoustune AEX07

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.00

For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange. The AEX07 sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Improved overall tonal texture and clarity over the latter. Note weight is is denser than AET07a however it sounds less congested than AET07. A good middle-ground between its two predecessors. My new favorite Acoustune eartip.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AEX50

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular 
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 1.50
Midrange: 2.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 3.50

Acoustune AEX50

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular 
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 1.50
Midrange: 2.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 3.50

What was Acoustune thinking when they came out these?! 

These eartips are “directional” (meaning you must wear them in a certain way) and a pain in the butt to put on. You need lots of patience and time to get them to sit well inside the ears. Getting the proper “ear seal” is nearly impossible. There is literally zero isolation. The design adopts a WW2 helmet-like umbrella shape with double “wings” design. The wide wing is to face the inner-part of the entrance to the ear canal, and the narrow wing facing out (see attached photos). 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get them to fit in my ears properly not matter how hard I tried. Although made of soft memory polymer, they become uncomfortable, irritating and warm inside my ears after a while.

Sound-wise, these eartips thin the sound so much that they make your TOTL IEMs sound like 1950s transistor radio. Everything sounds distant, lean and sibilance. 

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

Acoustune AEX70
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.00

Another addition to the new Acoustune AEX family. To me, these sound the most open and airy among the AEX members. Tonality and note weight are lighter than AEX07, as well as the older AET07. Overall, the AEX70 sounds cleaner and clearer than both AEX07 and AET07.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong.

ADV Eartune Fidelity U Elliptical Silicone Eartips (horizontal fit)
Bore size: small (4mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible, soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 3.5
An interesting elliptical eartip which fits two ways and can affect sound. The not so interesting part is it projects a smaller soundstage and vocals get thrown backwards. In both fittings, I experienced quite significant treble roll-off and details lost. Isolation is NOT GOOD!
Sample from ADVSound, courtesy of co-blogger Baskingshark.

ADV Eartune Fidelity U Elliptical Silicone Eartips (vertical fit)
Bore size: small (4mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible, soft and pliable
Bass: 3.0
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 3.5
An interesting elliptical eartip which fits two ways and can affect sound. The not so interesting part is it projects a smaller soundstage and vocals get thrown backwards. In both fittings, I experienced quite significant treble roll-off and details lost. Isolation is NOT GOOD!
Sample from ADVSound, courtesy of co-blogger Baskingshark.

AKG Anti-allergenic Sleeves for K3003
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 5.0
Yes, it is called “anti-allergenic sleeves”. If you can find these at your local earphone stores, GET IT! These sound extremely close to Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC but at half the cost. If you are not used to the grippiness or tackiness of the XELASTEC, AKG is the best alternative. Vocal is forward with very good dimension and ambience. 3D. Best of all it doesn’t affect bass and treble.
Purchase from a friend who bought from AKG outlet in Germany

ALPEX Hi-Unit HSE-A1000
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.25
These wide bore eartips bear an uncanny resemblance to JVC Spiral Dot in look but they don’t sound alike. The HSE-A1000 is brighter, more open and livelier. Midrange has more sparkle and life. The bass is cleaner, tighter and more textured. Best of all, they cost only a fraction of the JVC. I am surprised how good these are. What a hidden gem!
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Audiosense S400 Soft Silicone Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.5
Both Baskingshark and Vannak Pech are fans of this eartip. It adds “round-meatiness” (a.k.a smoothness and body) to the music without clouding the low-mids. Vocals can be a tad forward but still very pleasant. I would rank its sonic signatures between SpinFit CP-145 and Final Audio Type E eartips. Similar to SpinFits, it has a pivoting cap design.
Purchased from Audiosense Official Store on AliExpress

Audio-Technica FineFit ER-CKM55M
Bore size: small
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flrm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3
Vocal presence: 4
Bassy eartips that accentuates on vocal. Soundstage is smaller than most tips.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

Azla SednaEarFit Crystal (Standard)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 5.0

Another pricey eartip offering from Azla. Feels just like XELASTEC. Both XELASTEC and Crystal excel in the midrange and vocals. Their most obvious differences are in the upper-mids and mid-bass range where Crystal adds a touch more instrument presence, separation and space. Mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than XELASTEC yet doesn’t sacrifice warmth and body. It is good to note that Crystal does not have the upper-midrange “ringing” that plagues XELASTEC.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarfit Crystal (for TWS)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 5.0

Another pricey eartip offering from Azla. Feels similar to XELASTEC but with a shallower in-ear fit. Both XELASTEC and Crystal excel in the midrange and vocals. Their most obvious differences are in the upper-mids and mid-bass range where Crystal adds a touch more instrument presence, separation and space. Mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than XELASTEC yet doesn’t sacrifice warmth and body. It is good to note that Crystal does not have the upper-midrange “ringing” that plagues XELASTEC. Can be used for both IEM and TWS.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla SednaEarfit Foamax (Standard)
Bore size: wide bore with Waxguard.
Stem length: regular
Feel: medium density firmness and spongy

Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

I came across the SednaEarfit Foamax ear tips and was intrigued by users who claimed they were a superior alternative to the significantly more expensive Sony EP-NI1000M. If these claims hold true, Azla could have a major success on their hands.

In terms of sound quality, the SednaEarfit Foamax offers a crisper and clearer soundscape compared to the Sony. Vocals are more prominent and detailed, and the treble boasts a touch more vibrancy. However, the bass performance and soundstage are largely comparable between the two.

The SednaEarfit Foamax feels softer and plusher than the Sony, thanks to its slow rebound foam that regains its shape completely within 30 seconds. Additionally, the built-in mesh avoids causing any discomfort to the ear canal, unlike the Comply’s own Waxguard.

So, is the SednaEarfit Foamax better than the Sony EP-NI1000M? While I believe they offer a compelling alternative at a significantly lower price point, I personally favor the Sony’s more balanced sound signature. Nevertheless, considering they cost slightly more than half the price of the Sony, SednaEarfit Foamax is definitely worth considering.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarfit Max ASMR (Standard)
Bore size: narrow bore with Waxguard, short cap
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and flexible

Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.25
Vocal presence: 5.00

This eartip, the narrow bore version of the SednaEarFit Max, offers a distinct variation within the family. Compared to its sibling, SednaEarFit Max ASMR tightens the sound, resulting in a smaller perceived soundstage. However, it compensates with a more precise and focused sonic image. Additionally, it delivers superior tonal density, improved textural clarity, and richer vocals. As the name suggests, vocals are emphasized and brought forward in the mix, creating a sense of intimacy. However, there is a trade-off in the form of reduced treble extension and a lack of high-frequency sparkle. This translates to a smoother and more natural but potentially less detailed listening experience overall.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarfit ORIGIN for In-Ear Monitor & TWS
Bore size: regular, tapered to a wide opening
Stem length: long
Feel: firm and flexible

Bass: 5.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.75

The ORIGIN eartips are, without a doubt, the most bass-forward I’ve ever encountered. But fear not, bassheads, because this is a good thing! They deliver a satisfying low-end rumble that’s surprisingly free from bloat and muddiness. While they might not pack the same punchy, dynamic punch as the Penon Audio Liqueur black eartips, the ORIGIN compensates with a smooth, fluid presentation for vocals, offering a truly captivating listening experience. However, there’s a catch. While the lower frequencies are a feast, the upper treble frequencies exhibit a slight roll-off, meaning they lack some sparkle and airiness. So, if you crave razor-sharp highs, these might not be your best bet. Overall, if you’re a bass aficionado who values smooth vocals, the ORIGIN eartips are definitely worth considering. They excel at creating a rich and immersive listening experience, but may not be the ideal choice for those seeking a more analytical or balanced sound signature. Perfect eartips pairing for Simgot IEMs especially with EA1000.

Purchased from Amazon Japan.

Azla Sedna EarFit (Regular)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
For long nozzle good midrange
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarFit Short

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.50

Imagine the SednaEarFit Regular but with the stem chopped down a bit. These shorter SednaEarFits bring the music closer to your ears, making everything sound crisper, clearer and a bit more forward. They offer a similar experience to the SednaEarFit Light Short but with a delicate overall sound.

Purchased from Amazon Japan.

Azla Sedna EarFit (Light)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
A “lighter” version of the regular Sedna EarFit. More balanced-sounding overall.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Azla SednaEarFit (Light) Short
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
A “short-stem” version of SednaEarFitLight. Both nozzles are brought closer to the eardrums thus enhancement in overall clarity and vocal presence, which means stereo image and presentation are slightly more forward.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla SednaEarFit Max (Standard)

Bore size: wide (with waxguard)
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm

Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 3.50
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.00
Vocal presence: 3.50

Another highly-requested eartips from the audiophile community. However, just like its TWS sibling, these are not my favorite! First of all, their fitting is awful. It is too short for my ear canal. Second, I am not a fan of having waxguard inside the nozzle. And finally, why people like these are the main reasons for my dislikes. They introduce too much bass and mid-bass boost. The treble clarity and extension are suppressed and restricted. Vocals have a thick nasally undertone and are pushed forward. Overall, these present an average tonality that is surpassed by many cheaper eartips. If you haven’t purchased these, save your money. Azla SednaEarFit (Light) Short is better. It is another déjà vu moment for me with SednaEarfit Max series.

Purchased from Amazon, Singapore.

Azla SednaEarFit Max (for TWS)

Bore size: wide (with waxguard)
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 3.50
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.00
Vocal presence: 4.00

I was “urged” to review these eartips and I can understand why so many people like it. However, these are not my favorite! First of all, their fitting is awful. It is too short for my ear canal. Second, I am not a fan of having waxguard inside the nozzle. And finally, why people like these are the main reasons for my dislikes. They introduce too much bass and mid-bass boost. The treble clarity and extension are suppressed as well. Vocals have a thick nasally undertone and are pushed forward. Overall, these present an average tonality that is surpassed by many cheaper eartips. If you haven’t purchased these, save your money. Azla SednaEarFit (Light) Short is better in my opinion.

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla SednaEarFit Vivid Edition

Bore size: narrow 
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.75

At first glance, these look like colourful version of SednaEarFitLight Short. Upon close examination, they are very different in looks, feel and sound. SednaEarFit Vivid Edition feels softer and plusher. It has a narrower bore and sounds livelier than SednaEarFit Light Short. Bass is punchier, better texture and definition. Vocals sound cleaner, clearer and slightly forward. Upper-registers are brighter and slightly more extended than SednaEarFitLight Short. This eartips definitely deserve the “Vivid Edition” title. Not suitable for bright or shouty IEMs. 

Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.0

The most expensive eartip in my collection. Isolation is impeccable. If you love vocals, THIS IS IT! Vocal presence is extremely 3D. Best of all it doesn’t affect bass and treble. Projects soundstage a bit narrower than regular SednaEarFit.

Azla SednaEarfit XELASTEC II
Bore size: regular, with Waxguard
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and grippy

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

Compared to its predecessor, XELASTEC II offers a less sticky, dust-resistant surface. The flexible Waxguard improves the sound with smoother treble and reduced upper-midrange glare, all while preserving the core strengths of the original. For fans of the original XELASTEC who prefer a less sticky feel, XELASTEC II is the perfect choice.

Purchased from Amazon JP

B

BGVP A07 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET07. Heck… It sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange and top-end sparkle. I find this eartip to have better bass texture, dynamics and vocal presence than SpinFit CP100 and CP145. The A07 is often labeled as “vocal” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP A08 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 5
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET08, this eartip adds thickness to bass and midrange. However, unlike Acoustune AET08, I find it a speck bright. The A08 is often labeled as “bass” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP Electric Blue “ArtMagic VG4” Silicone Vocal Eartip
Bore size: regular 
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.0This eartip comes stock with BGVP ArtMagic VG4, ArtMagic V12 and DH3, labeled under “vocal” eartip. Highly-praised by Singaporean audiophile Reza Emmanuel as his standard reference, I must say this eartip is extremely comfortable, literally fatigue-free for long listening sessions.

Sound is clean, tight and very well-textured. Bass and low-mids are detailed, punchy and dynamic. Midrange is clear with excellent separation. Upper-mids and treble are smooth and extended with good amount of air and spacial cues. Vocal position is ‘just nice” – that is neither too forward nor too laid-back. Soundstage is realistically wide without sounding too spread-out. Similar to SpinFit, this eartip comes with a pivoting umbrella/cap.
Specially-ordered from BGVP Taobao Official Store as they do not sell this eartip individually. 

BGVP E01 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
Looks identical to Final Audio Type E eartips it has a balanced sound that tames harshness. I find it lacks the smoothness of original Final Audio Type E eartips. This style of eartip is often labeled as “balance” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP S01 Eartips
Bore size: Very wide with narrow opening
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 3.0
Vocal presence: 3.0
A very interesting eartip with an exceptionally wide nozzle and narrow opening. Treble is vastly emphasize with a hint of bass and midrange. Works very well for dull-sounding earphones but make sure you can fit it 6.5mm diameter bore.
Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BVGP W01 Eartips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short and stubby
Feel: short and flexible
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5Short stem and wide bore brings nozzle closer to the eardrums thus enhancement in overall clarity and vocal presence, which means stereo image and presentation are slightly more forward. A slight boost in mid-bass is noticeable. 
Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

BGVP Y01 Eartips
Bore size: Very wide with narrow opening
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 3.0
Vocal presence: 3.0
A very interesting eartip with an exceptionally wide nozzle and narrow opening. Similar to BGVP S01 but with a smidgen more bass. Works well for dull-sounding earphones but make sure you can fit it 6.5mm diameter bore.
Purchased from BGVP Taobao store

C

Canal Works CW Dual Nozzle (CWU-DECM)
Bore size: wide / short cap
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 3.75
For neutral tonality with slight bass reduction and laid-back vocal compared to SpinFit CP-145. Otherwise both sound quite similar.
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Canal Works CW Dual Nozzle 《肉球》”Nikukyuu” (CWU-GDECM)

Bore size: wide / short cap
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 3.75

This eartip is basically Canal Works CW-DECM with silicone “gel” infused to the inner-cavity of the cap. For neutral tonality with improved bass weight, otherwise both the “gel” and “non-gel” versions sound quite similar.

Purchased from Amazon, Japan

Canal Works CW Single Nozzle (CWU-ECM)
Bore size: small
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.25
Eerily similar to Radius Deep Mount but with slightly less vocal presence and less transparent. Not suitable for bright earphones.
Purchased from Japan through a friend

Canal Works CW Single Nozzle 《肉球》”Nikukyuu” (CWU-GECM)

Bore size: narrow
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.50

This eartip is basically Canal Works CWU-ECM with silicone “gel” infused to the inner-cavity of the cap. Improved bass and lower-midrange over the “non-gel” version. Not suitable for bright-sounding earphones.

Purchased from Amazon, Japan

Canyon Silikon-Eartips ET400 (Bass)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 3.25
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 3.0
Canyon is a German company however these eartips are made in China. Interestingly, I find these eartips very pleasing, especially in staging. The ET400 is laid back yet retains imaging scale and focus very well. Although the packaging says “bass”, the ET400 isn’t bassy or rumbly. I would classify it as balanced with a touch of midrange warmth.
Purchased from Canyon Official Taobao Store.

CleanPiece Anti-bacteria Silicone Eartip
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 3.0
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 3.0
An interesting audiophile’s “sanitary” product from Japan, and made in Japan. How true is the anti-bacteria, anti-microbial and anti-virus properties I don’t know (it comes in a plastic “petri dish”) but I do know these eartips roll-off treble and thicken bass and mid-bass. You lose clarity but gain body and smoothness. Recommended for bright and harsh sounding IEMs.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

D

ddHiFi ST35 Silicone Eartips (Standard)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

A slightly more bassy version of Acoustune AET08. The ST35 has solid and punchy bass, full-bodied midrange and good vocal presence. Nonetheless, it has a slightly rolled-off treble. Similar to the AET08, soundstage and stereo imaging are average. Instruments and voices are tad front forward but non-offensive. It has a pivoting umbrella just like SpinFits. Comes in a nice plastic storage case with 3 pairs of your chosen size.

Purchased from ddHiFi Official Taobao Store

Divinus MOCHI TIP (for IEM/TWS)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: very short
Feel: soft, elastic and pliable
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 4.50

These eartips have an extremely shallow fit due to their noticeably short stem. They produce a very midrange-forward sound with suppressed mid-bass and forward vocals. The soundstage is open and airy. They remind me of Moondrop Spring Tips with a sturdier cap and shorter stem. Vocals can sound sibilant and piercing when matched with bright earphones, so be very careful with your pairings.

Purchased from Audion Shopee Store (Indonesia)

Divinus Velvet Eartips (Standard)
Bore size: tapered, narrow to wide
Stem length: short
Feel: smooth and soft
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.50

If you don’t look closely, this eartip looks almost identical to Radius Deep Mount. It has the Beefeater bearskin shape which is wide on top and narrow at the bottom. Quite a transparent sounding eartip I must say. Sounds brighter than Deep Mount with slightly less bass. Korean Radius Deep Mount? Not suitable piercing or lean sounding IEMs.

Purchased from e*earphone, Japan

Divinus Velvet Eartips (for TWS)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: very short
Feel: smooth and soft
Bass: 3.00.
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

A shorter version of standard Divinus Velvet Eartips with very noticeable bass and low-mids reduction. Comfortable but unsuitable for earphones or TWS with short nozzle.

Purchased from e*earphone, Japan.

Dunu Candy Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 3.50

I am neither impressed by its lightweight nor its relaxed presentation. Vocal is a tad too recessed for my liking. Nevertheless, stage is spacious and airy. Goes well with forward-sounding IEM.

Purchased from Dunu Official Taobao Store

Dunu S&S Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: rubbery and elastic
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 4.00

The first time I tried these eartips was when I auditioned the Dunu Talos. The S&S eartips was part of their stock accessories. I immediately fell in love with these eartips. It presents clean yet balanced sound signature with a large soundstage, both width and depth, and good imaging. Perfect match for planar IEMs (these are attached permanently to my Timeless and Timeless AE). My only complain is they have an awkward fit and can be uncomfortable for some people. Comes in a plastic storage case with 3 pairs of your chosen size. Good stuff!

Purchased from Dunu Official Taobao Store

E

EarrBond Barreleye Blue 
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with sturdy core
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4.0
Different from EarrBond New Hybrid series, Barreleye eartips use a sturdy silicone core which give an surprisingly good seal without the squishy feel of foam. Similar to the New Hybrid series, sound is laid back. Barreleye Blue has better clarity, instrument separation, treble extension, stage depth and layering than Barreleye Green and New Hybrid.

However due to its emphasis in the upper-midrange and treble regions, Barreleye Blue isn’t suitable for bright, sibilant or harsh sounding earphones. Group member Vannak Pech described the sound as if “when you apply contrast filter to your image…”.
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

EarrBond Barreleye Green
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with firm core
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
Different from EarrBond New Hybrid series, Barreleye eartips use a firm silicone core which gives an surprisingly good seal without the squishy feel of foam. Similar to the New Hybrid series, sound is laid back. Barreleye Green adds body and bass punch but it lacks the clarity, instrument separation, treble extension, stage depth and layering of Barreleye Blue. 
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

EarrBond EBT New Hybrid Design Eartips with Metal Core (CU) Copper

Bore size: regular, with copper insert
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with semi-firm core

Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.25

At US$50 for two pairs (mimimum order quantity is 2 pairs), these hybrid eartips are one of the most expensive eartips in my collection. Equally as comfortable as original EarrBond EBT eartips and feels softer than Pentaconn COREIR Brass eartips. Isolation is exceptional. Are they worth US$25 a pair? Frankly, no! Performance is on par with silicone eartips such as Final Type E and Divinus Velvet. However, if you are looking for foam-level isolation with upper-midrange clarity, look no further. The difference between copper and stainless steel is copper eartips sound warmer and fuller. The vocals are more intimate also.

Safety concerns: Since the metal cores are inserted halfway into the nozzle. It may accidentally slipped out and leave inside the ear canal… Let’s say I am paranoid.

Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

EarrBond EBT New Hybrid Design Eartips with Metal Core (SS) Stainless Steel

Bore size: regular, with stainless steel insert
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with semi-firm core

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.50

At US$50 for two (mimimum order quantity is 2 pairs), these hybrid eartips are one of the most expensive eartips in my collection. Equally as comfortable as normal EarrBond EBT eartips and feels softer than Pentaconn COREIR Brass eartips. Isolation is exceptional. Are they worth US$25 a pair? Frankly, no! Performance is on par with silicone eartips such as Radius Deep Mount and Acoustune AET08. However, if you are looking for foam-level isolation with upper-midrange clarity, look no further. The difference between copper and stainless steel is the latter sounds brighter and has a more sparkly top-end. Vocal sounds livelier as well.

Safety concerns: Since the metal cores are inserted halfway into the nozzle. It may accidentally slip out and leave inside the ear canal… Let’s say I am paranoid

Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

EarrBond New Hybrid Design
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and spongy
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.25
EarrBond is softer and more squishy compared to other hybrid eartips, thus more comfortable for long-listening sessions. The moment you put them on, they simply disappear into your ear canals. Furthermore, they isolate well too. Sound-wise these are a bit too laid back for my taste. Also, I could detect some sibilance on a some female vocal tracks. In term of wearing comfort and isolation, this win hands down.
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

Elecom Spare Ear Cap (EHP-CAP10)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.25
The brand Elecom is relatively unknown outside of Asia. These eartips surprised me with their exceptionally good sound and budget-friendly price. For ￥250 or US$2.50, you’ll get 4 pairs of eartips consist of X-Small, Small, Medium and Large sizes. Sound-wise, it is neutral tonality with emphasis in upper-bass and midrange regions (which adds body) as well as in vocals. I rank these higher than SpinFit CP-145 and on-par with Final Audio Type-E (black) eartips. Everybody should get these eartips if they ever come across it.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

Elecom Spare Ear Cap (EHP-CAP20)
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm

Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.50

I will like to thank Jeremy Phua for bringing this eartips to my attention. Japanese consumer electronics brand Elecom is relatively unknown outside of Asia. But even in Singapore (where I live), Elecom products are uncommon.

Some online rumours claimed that Tanchjim includes this as the stock eartips with some of their IEMs. I have the stock eartips from Tanchjim Tanya. After comparing both, my conclusions are they look “quite” similar but sound different.

Nonetheless, this eartip sounds energetic but balanced overall. My only gripe is that vocals can sound a bit strident and nasally. Not as refined as Acoustune AET07 or SpinFit CP-100.

Purchased from Amazon.jp

Eletech Baroque Luxury Hi-Fi Eartips

Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: smooth and soft

Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.75

These eartips are so soft and smooth, they feel like luxury! The texture is similar to Divinus Velvet eartips. They suppress the mid-bass and bring the midrange and upper midrange forward, making them perfect for warm or muddy sounding IEMs. The soundstage is wide, deep, and tall, giving a sense of space around every instrument and artist.

My only gripe is that the silicone material feels thin, which affects the ear seal and isolation.

Compared to Azla SednaEarFit (Light) Short eartips, the Azlas have better low-end punch, vocal clarity, and airiness. The Baroque eartips sound smoother overall.

Compared to Moondrop Spring Tips eartips, the Spring Tips have more vocal presence and are clearer and cleaner. However, the Baroque eartips sound more organic, have better tonal weight, and are less fatiguing.

Overall, the Baroque is a great addition to any eartip collection.

Purchased from Element Technology (Singapore)

Epro Horn-shaped Tips
Bore size: cone-shaped, tempered (4mm nozzle end, 5mm bell end)
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4 25
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
Made of graphene and unlike most eartips, Epro has a cone-shaped tempered bore of 4mm at nozzle end to 5mm at the bell. It adds warmth, body and texture to vocals It tames harsh and peaky treble exceptionally well too. It DOESN’T roll-off highs and kills the air and ambient like some other foam tips. What I really enjoy about the Epro is that it adds a buttery smooth to the overall sound which make harsh-sounding earphones, such as the KZ ZS6, listenable again.
Purchased from Treoo Singapore

Epro Horn-shaped Tips (EP01)
Bore size: a cone-shaped tempered super widebore (5mm nozzle end, 8mm bell end)
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

Epro Horn-shaped Tips EP01 has a cone-shaped tempered bore of 5mm at nozzle end to 8mm at the bell. These eartips have the widest bore I have seen. But unlike conventional wide bore eartips, which usually makes everything sound thin and clear, EP01 adds body and texture to the overall sound. Just like its sibling the EP00, these eartips tame sibilance and peaky treble exceptionally well. However, it DOESN’T roll-off highs and kills the air and ambience like some other foam tips. Epro EP01 adds smoothness to the overall sound which tames harsh-sounding earphones. The best eartips to have if you want clarity, smoothness and note weight at the same time.

Purchased from Amazon US.

Epro Horn-shaped Tips Truly Wireless (for TWS)
Bore size: cone-shaped, tempered (4mm nozzle end, 5mm bell end)
Stem length: Short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.50
Made of graphene and unlike most eartips, Epro has a cone-shaped tempered bore of 4mm at nozzle end to 5mm at the bell. It adds warmth, body and texture to vocals, It tames harsh and peaky treble exceptionally well too. It DOESN’T roll-off highs and kills the air and ambient like some other foam tips. What I really enjoy about the Epro is that it adds a buttery smooth to the overall sound which make harsh-sounding earphones listenable again. This short nozzle version has more vocal presence and less mid-bass bloom than regular Epro Horn-shaped Tips.

Purchased from Treoo Singapore

EPZ Eartips (double flange)
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: very short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 3.00
Vocal presence: 4.00

Do take note that these eartips fit smaller than normal (I am wearing Large instead of my usual Medium). Extremely short and narrow nozzle that I have tough time trying to put them on. Although double-flanged, they did not fit inside my ears properly. Nonetheless, a comfortable set of eartips if they fit you. I find the soundstage narrow and compressed.

Purchased from EPZ Taobao Store

EPZ Eartips (short cap)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.50

Do take note that these eartips fit smaller than normal (I am wearing Large instead of my usual Medium). Neutral tonality with a clean and clear overall presentation. My only gripe is the short cap which makes this eartip unsuitable for earphones with short nozzles.

Purchased from EPZ Taobao Store

F

FAudio “Vocal” Premium Silicone Earphone Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 5
Accentuates on vocal and midrange but it also makes sibilance more noticeable. My favorite vocal eartip is still the SednaEarFit XELASTEC.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

FAudio “Instrument” Premium Silicone Earphone Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 5
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.25
Very punchy, fun, musical-sounding eartips. Sub-bass is exceptional. Vocal and mids are laid-back. Soundstage is average.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

Fender SureSeal Tips
Bore size: tapered widebore
Stem length: short
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
Vastly similar to Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC, Fender SureSeal offers a more laid-back presentation with balanced sound. Mid-bass is a tad fuller. Soundstage slightly wider than XELASTEC but imaging is less precise. SureSeal does not suffer from the upper-midrange ring that plagues XELASTEC especially with DD-based earphones. Expect dust-magnet. All thermoplastic elastomer eartips require regular washing and sanitizing to prevent ears infection.
Purchased from Amazon.jp.

Feaulle Latex H570 For General Earplugs
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: plush and grippy

Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 5.0
Soundstage: 4.75
Vocal presence: 5.0

These “latex” eartips remind me of TRI Clarion. So, if you enjoy TRI Clarion, you will definitely love these. Overall tone is bright and lean. Vocals are sibilant but give very good enunciation. Stage and imaging are quite good. Resolves very well. Fit and comfort are good. These don’t feel sticky or attract dust like Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC.

Purchased from Feaulle Taobao Store.

FiiO Silicone (Balanced Ear tips)
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.25
Nice sounding eartips with a toned down bass and treble.
Purchased from FiiO store on Taobao (Mainland China)

FiiO Silicone (Bass Eartips)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
This is similar to many stock tips like those from TRN.
Purchased from FiiO store on Taobao (Mainland China)

FiiO Silicone (Vocal Eartips)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 2.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 5
These tips cut bass drastically!
Purchased from FiiO store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Filter H270 TPE Eartips
Bore size: regular with grille
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 5.0

Is this US$7 per pair Chinese-made TPE eartip comparable to Azla SednaEarFits XELASTEC and Fender SureSeal? I am sorry to say the H270 eartip doesn’t feel and wear like a TPE eartip. Thus, I do suspect it isn’t made of TPE at all. Probably made of silicone at best. Nonetheless, H270 is a very lively-sounding eartip. Bass is quite punchy.

Sub-bass rumble is good. Midrange is crisp and clear. Treble extension is very good. Soundstage and imaging are good. If you can overlook the fact that this isn’t made of TPE like they claimed, this is a pretty decent eartip. In terms of sound, it is closer to SureSeal than XELASTEC. Both eartips have accentuated upper-mids and treble.
Purchased from Filter Taobao official store

Filter H370 Latex Eartips
Bore size: elliptical-shaped, regular with grille
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 2.0
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3.0
Soundstage: 3.0
Vocal presence: 3.5

This Chinese Filter H370 does remind me a bit of ADV Eartune Fidelity U Elliptical eartip but performs far worse… Yup, in my encyclopedia of eartips this one is pretty bad. First thing you will notice is how boomy and wooly the bass is. It is so bad that it bleeds into the mids. Upper treble is rolled-off, thus lacking a sense of space and openness. All-in-all, the H370 is a dark-sounding eartip with poor technicalities. Comfort-wise is quite good though. What a pity!
Purchased from Filter Taobao official store

Final Audio Type A
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4. 8
Vocal presence: 4
Less common than Type E. Let’s call this Type E with a slightly boosted treble and thus lesser bass. As a whole it gives better clarity. The overall tonality remains quite balanced.
Purchased from Amazon.jp.

Final Audio Type B
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and plush
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
Less common than Type E. Let’s call this Type E with a slightly boosted bass. Overall sound is more round robust as well. My favorite eartips for diffused-field oriented earphones
Purchased from Amazon.jp

Final Audio Type E
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tame harsh earphones
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

Final Audio Type E (Clear, Clear/Red) 2020 Edition)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4 25
Vocal presence: 4.5
Sounds cleaner, clearer, brighter and tighter bass than conventional black Final Audio Type E eartip. Improved vocal lucidity. Tonally more accurate as well.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Final Audio Type E (Canjam Singapore 2023 Edition)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4 25
Vocal presence: 4.50

It comes in various colours, as well as glow-in-the-dark green. Sounds cleaner, clearer, brighter, and tighter bass than conventional black Final Audio Type E eartip. Improved vocal lucidity. Tonally more accurate as well.

Raffled from Project Perfect Pte Ltd (DITA) booth at Canjam Singapore

Final Audio Type E (for TWS)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.75
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

Quite the opposite of regular Final Type E eartips sonic-wise, These tips intensify upper-mids and treble, which unfortunately, introduces sibilance to female vocals and makes cymbals sound tinny. This can be unpleasant especially when used with bright earphones. Staging and ambience are better than regular Type E. Use with caution!

Purchased from Final Audio Official Taobao Store

Final Type E Silicon Eartips for True Wireless (clear)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 5
Vocal presence: 4
Overall, similar to Final Type E True Wireless (black) but with slightly less bass.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

FiiO HS18 Silicone Ear Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and light
Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

The FiiO HS18 is extremely thin and I was afraid this might affect its seal and isolation… Well, I worried too much. The HS18 is soft, lightweight and comfortable. Seal and isolation are good. Neutral tonality with very “bouncy” bass. Midrange is smooth and laid-back. Treble is crisp and sparkly however its presence is not emphasized (which is a good thing in general). Soundstage is very open and airy. One of the better eartips I have tested in 2022. Yes, the FiiO HS18 can rival some of the pricier offerings from SpinFit, Acoustune and Azla. For the record, I hardly, almost rarely, praise a FiiO product.

Purchased from FiiO Taobao Official Store

I

ICE CLEAR Earphone Plug
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: grippy but firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

These eartips, likely made by TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), offer surprising competition to the Azla SednaFit Crystal eartips. At only $10 for three pairs, they deliver performance that rivals the Crystal’s, with just a slight decrease in the emphasis of bass and sub-bass notes. However, the true strength of these TPE eartips lies in their exceptional clarity, resolution, and ability to create a wide soundstage. My one complaint is that the material feels a bit too rigid and produces a cracking noise whenever I move my jaw

Purchased from 德海基业数码专营店 (Dehaijiyeshuma) Taobao store

INfilter Variety Dot Ear Tip
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: pliable and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3.00
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.00

A JVC Spiral Dot clone but more bassy and a tad smoother. Midrange details are a little smeared, resolution lacking. Unfortunately, this still can’t replace the good ol’ Spiral Dot.

Purchased from Focus Audio Taobao Store

INfilter Variety Dot Pro Ear Tip
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: pliable and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.00

A JVC Spiral Dot clone. Sounds almost identical to the Variety Dot but with cleaner and more open upper-registers. Personally, I will choose this over the original Variety Dot.

Purchased from Focus Audio Taobao Store

INfiter Variety Dot IE45 Short for TWS (Dow Corning silicone and graphene)
Bore size: wide with short cap
Stem length: very short
Feel: pliable and firm

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

The Infiter IE45 eartips are designed primarily for True Wireless earbuds, but they can also be used with traditional In-Ear Monitors. They are known for their smooth, balanced sound signature that prioritizes clarity. The IE45 eartips deliver a smooth and balanced sound experience that is pleasing to the listener. They avoid harshness or excessive emphasis on any particular frequency range. These eartips prioritize clarity, ensuring that vocals and instruments are well-defined and easy to distinguish within the mix. The graphene-infused version of the IE45 eartips further enhances the smoothness and reduces listener fatigue. This is achieved through the unique properties of graphene, a material known for its excellent damping properties. The IE45 eartips offer good value for the price. They provide a significant improvement in sound quality for both TWS earbuds and IEMs, without breaking the bank.

Purchased from INfiter Taobao Store

INfiter Variety Dot IE45 Short for TWS (Dow Corning silicone)
Bore size: wide with short cap
Stem length: very short
Feel: pliable and firm

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

Originally designed for True Wireless earbuds, the Infiter IE45 eartips are also compatible with In-Ear Monitors. Known for their smooth, balanced sound, these eartips prioritize clarity, making them ideal for listeners who prefer a clean and accurate listening experience. Vocals are clear and well-defined, making it easy to understand lyrics or dialogue. The smooth, non-harsh treble ensures a pleasant listening experience without any fatiguing sharpness. The Clear version offers an open and airy soundstage, creating a wider and more immersive listening experience. They provide a decent overall sound, with a focus on clarity and comfort, making them a suitable option for value-conscious listeners who prioritize comfort.

Purchased from INfiter Taobao Store

INfiter Variety Dot IE45Pro Short for TWS (Black)
Bore size: wide with short cap
Stem length: very short
Feel: pliable and firm

Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.20
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

Originally designed for True Wireless earbuds, the Infiter IE45Pro eartips can also be used with In-Ear Monitors. They are known for their smooth, balanced sound signature that prioritizes clarity, making them a good choice for listeners who prefer a clean and accurate listening experience. The Black version is made from a soft, comfortable material that allows for extended wear without fatigue. Vocals sound clear and well-defined, making it easy to understand the lyrics or dialogue in your audio. The treble is also smooth and free of harshness, ensuring a pleasant listening experience without any fatiguing sharpness. The soundstage offered by the Black version is open and airy, creating a wider and more immersive listening experience. They provide a decent overall sound experience with a focus on clarity and comfort, making them a suitable option for listeners who prioritize comfort and good value.

Purchased from INfiter Taobao Store

INfiter Variety Dot IE45Pro Short for TWS (Clear)
Bore size: wide with short cap
Stem length: very short
Feel: pliable and firm

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.25

While primarily advertised for TWS earbuds, the Infiter IE45Pro eartips can also be used with traditional IEMs. They offer a smooth and balanced sound signature that prioritizes clarity. The Clear version delivers a smooth and non-fatiguing sound profile. However, certain listeners might find that vocals, especially female vocals, can take on a slightly nasal quality. The treble range lacks a bit of sparkle and vibrancy, which can make the sound feel a bit dull or veiled. The soundstage feels somewhat compressed, meaning the instruments may not seem as spacious or separated as with other eartips. Despite the mentioned limitations, IE45Pro Clear offers good value for the price. They provide a decent overall sound experience.

Purchased from INfiter Taobao Store

InFiter TPE Eartips (PT37-TWS)
Bore size: wide bore
Stem length: short
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

Although these are stated for TWS, they can be used on normal IEMs but with a caveat. This eartip is a fine example of why TWS eartips aren’t so appealing for high-fidelity use. Because of their short stem, many TWS eartips have the tendency to push vocals and upper midrange too forward, making them shouty. Sub-bass, bass and mid-bass take a back seat. Good match for muddy-sounding earphones. Do take note that TPE eartips are dust and dirt magnet. They will deform and lose its shape over time.

Purchased from InFiter Taobao Store.

InFiter TPE Eartips (PW-10)
Bore size: wide bore
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

A leaner-sounding version of Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC. Bass is less impactful. However, midrange preserves most of the characteristics of XELASTEC. Soundstage seems wider and more open as well. Nonetheless finishing is nowhere close to Azla’s.

Purchased from InFiter Taobao Store.

InFiter TPE Eartips (PW-20)
Bore size: 7mm superwide bore
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft, grippy and sticky
Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

A clearer version of Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC. You’ll get 70% of XELASTEC performance at a fraction of the cost. Is it worth a try? Sure… But take note these are TPE eartips (just like XELASTEC) thus they are dust and dirt magnet. They will deform and lose its shape over time. Finishing-wise not as beautiful and smooth as Azla’s. Great value for money if you don’t want to pay the XELASTEC price.

Purchased from InFiter Taobao Store

INfiter WS38 for TWS (Clear white)
Bore size: wide with short cap
Stem length: very short
Feel: thin and soft

Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

These eartips are constructed from very thin and soft silicone and unfortunately these contribute to a poor fit. They struggle to stay securely in place and are prone to flipping over during use, compromising both comfort and sound quality. The thin material significantly impacts the sound signature. The overall sound comes across as bright and lacking in body. Bass frequencies are noticeably suppressed, resulting in a weak and underwhelming low-end experience. The lack of “punch” and “noteweight” refers to the absence of impact and definition in the bass notes, leaving the sound overall thin and hollow. Not recommended.

Purchased from INfiter Taobao Store

INfiter WS43 for TWS (Clear blue)
Bore size: wide with short cap
Stem length: very short
Feel: thin and soft

Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 5.00

These eartips are identical to the INfiter W38 model but come in a light blue color. While constructed from soft, thin silicone for comfort, this material unfortunately contributes to a poor fit in the ear. They struggle to stay secure and tend to flip out during use, negatively impacting both comfort and sound quality. The thinness of the material also significantly impacts the sound signature. The overall sound becomes bright and lacks body, with noticeably suppressed bass frequencies. Overall, due to the poor fit and compromised sound quality, these eartips are not recommended.

Purchased from INfiter Taobao Store

Intime iReep 01
Bore size: wide (reversed cap)
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 4.00

An incredibly unique eartip that resembles a whiskey barrel with the entire stem fully concealed within the reversed cap, which forms a dome. It is extremely comfortable, isolates and seals very well. Because sound is reflected into the dome, it has an echo (reverb) effect. This presents a wide soundstage with particularly good height and depth. Unfortunately, this echo effect causes vocals, female voices especially, to sound nasally and wheezy. As if the singer is singing with his or her nose pinched. Without a doubt, the iReep 01 is the most unusual eartip in my collection.

Purchased from e*earphone, Japan

J

Jomo Audio ONYX Double Flanges Premium Silicone Eartips (For IEMs)
Bore size: double flange, very wide
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: soft, thin, and springy

Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00
Double-flange eartips with wide bores are a rarity. The Acoustune AET06 series is another example of such eartips that I’ve reviewed. In comparison, the ONYX double-flange eartips deliver a brighter, clearer, and more open sound signature. However, they also significantly reduce low and mid-bass frequencies, sacrificing dynamics in the process. While this is ideal for those seeking to reduce bass bloat or muddiness, it makes them less suitable for bright or lean-sounding IEMs. The thin flange material tends to curl upwards when removed from the ears.

Purchased from Let’s Go Audio Online Store, Hong Kong

JVC Spiral Dot (Regular)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tame harsh earphones
Purchased from Japan through a friend

JVC Spiral Dot SF (Short Flange / Shallow Fit)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short (shallow fit)
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
These eartips are meant for true wireless earpieces. These have more bass and vocal presence than SpinFit CP-350 and CP-360. Comparable to Final Type E True Wireless (black) but sound less open and less treble extension.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

JVC Spiral Dot++ (EP-FX10)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: supple and grippy
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tames harsh earphones. Cleaner but lesser bass and midrange compared to regular Spiral Dot. Very comfortable for long listening sessions.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

JVC/Victor EP-FX2 (Poor men’s Spiral Dot)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
You get 80% performance of Spiral Dot at 30% of its price. Comfortable for long listening. Good value for money.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

K

KB EAR 10 Silicone Eartips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 3 5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4
For balance sound. Tames bass-heavy earphones. Smooth tonality suitable for long listening sessions.Purchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KB EAR A07 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET07. Heck… It sounds closer to AET07a than AET07. Neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange and top-end sparkle. I find this eartip to have better bass texture, dynamics and vocal presence than SpinFit CP100 and CP145. The A07 is often labeled as “vocal” eartip for most stock tips offering.Purchased from BGVP Taobao storePurchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KB EAR A08 Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 5
Suspiciously similar to Acoustune AET08, this eartip adds thickness to bass and midrange. However, unlike Acoustune AET08, I find it a speck bright. The A08 is often labeled as “bass” eartip for most stock tips offering.
Purchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KB EAR “Columbia” Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
This eartip is worthy of the title “Sony clone”. Sounds virtually identical to Sony EP-EX11M eartip, which my sensitive ears couldn’t tell them apart. For neutral tonality with slight treble roll-off.
Purchased from KB EAR Taobao store

KZ Starline
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3
Vocal presence: 2.75
Purchased from KZ store on Taobao (Mainland China)

These stock KZ eartips come in two versions. The older version was included with KZ ZS3 and KZ ZS5, etc, were no longer available. They are softer and more pliable compare to current ones. Sound-wise, co-blogger Slater prefers the former. They give smoother midrange and cleaner treble. The ones tested here are the current/ new version.

KZ Starline (reverse)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: long
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 3.5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4*
Vocal presence: 3
For bright, clear and crisp sound
*soundstage has more depth and height than width
Purchased from KZ store on Taobao (Mainland China)

KZ Whirlwind Silicone Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 2.0
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.50
Similar to Tennmak Whirlwind, these eartips reduce bass and mid-bass significantly. Projects vocals forward with good presence.
Purchased from KZ Official Store on Taobao

L

LIZER LAB JIJUFIN Earpiece
Bore size: regular
Stem length: not applicable
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.75
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 4.75

The most unique and unusual eartips in my entire collection. From the Land of the Rising Sun, LIZER LAB eartips feature a patented metal phase-plug which promise to “reposition” your music to sound as if music is coming from the front, rather than from inside and above your head. LIZER LAB claimed their eartips to give the listener an “out-of-head localization” concert and live performance experience. Is this snake oil or real? Does it works? My conclusion is it depends. The effects on some earphones are prominent while others are not as outstanding.

Nonetheless, vocal is extremely clean. Bass is slightly recessed (compared to conventional silicone eartips such has Final Audio Type E), nonetheless still sounds full and weighty. Treble extension is good. Soundstage and stereo imaging are exceptional. Pairs well with neutral-warm sounding earphones.

LIZER LAB JIJUFIN eartips don’t come cheap. A pair will set you back 3,880 Japanese Yen or around US$28. Nonetheless, it gives the listener a unique experience and definitely a conversation piece among audiophile friends.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

LIZER LAB JIJU-JET Earpiece
Bore size: regular
Stem length: not applicable
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.75
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 4.75

The most unique and unusual eartips I have used. From Japan, LIZER LAB eartips feature a patented metal phase-plug which promise to “reposition” your music to sound as if music is coming from the front, rather than from inside and above your head. LIZER LAB advertised their eartips to give the listener an “out-of-head localization” concert and live performance experience. Is this snake oil? Does it works? My conclusion is it depends. The effects on some earphones are prominent, while some are not as outstanding.

Nonetheless, vocal is extremely clean. Bass is suppressed but not rolled-off. Treble extension is good. Soundstage and stereo imaging are the stars of the show. Compared to JIJUFIN, JIJU-JET sounds leaner and crispier. Dynamics and impact are snappier and sharper. Pairs well with dark-sounding earphones.

LIZER LAB JIJU-JET eartips don’t come cheap. A pair will set you back 3,680 Japanese Yen or around US$26. Nonetheless, it will give the listener a unique experience and definitely a conversation piece among audiophile friends.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

LIZER LAB JIJU-JET2 Earpiece
Bore size: regular
Stem length: not applicable
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

The most unique and unusual eartips I have seen. From Japan, LIZER LAB eartips feature a patented metal phase-plug which promise to “reposition” your music to sound as if music is coming from the front, rather than from inside and above your head. LIZER LAB advertised their eartips to give the listener an “out-of-head localization” concert and live performance experience. Is this snake oil or real? Does it works? My conclusion is it depends. The effects on some earphones are prominent, while some are not as outstanding.

JIJU-JET2 is the revised version of original JIJU-JET. Vocal projection is brought forward creating a better 3D-effect on human voices. Soundstage has better depth and instruments have more breathing space around them. Similar to its predecessor, bass is suppressed but not rolled-off. Treble extension is excellent. However, I do notice a slight metallic timbre which makes female voices sound a tad cold and steely. Pairs well with dark-sounding earphones.

LIZER LAB JIJU-JET2 eartips don’t come cheap. A pair will set you back 3,780 Japanese Yen or around US$27. Nonetheless, it will give the listener a unique experience and definitely a conversation piece among audiophile friends.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

M

Marunana 七福神 silicone eartips
Bore size: narrow
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4Vocal presence: 4.25
Marunana eartips is recommended by a friend who discovered it from a native Japanese audio enthusiast. These eartips are surprisingly affordable (880¥ for 12 pairs!). Great midrange texture and vocal presence. My only nitpick is they tend to cloud the mid-bass a little but it adds body to lean earphones.
Purchased from Amazon Japan

Moondrop Spring Tips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft with pliable stem
Bass: 2.50
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 5.0
These originally come stock with Moondrop KATO. First impression is how suppressed the bass and mid-bass are, which thins the overall note-weight and body. Midrange is textured with good details. Vocal is forward with very good presence.

Treble has good sparkle and crisp, however it lacks that last bit of extension and airiness. Great match for earphones with too much mid-bass or has bleeding mid-bass. The caps are too soft in my opinion. They flap over every time I remove them from my ears, which is very annoying.
Purchased from Moondrop Taobao Official Store

N

New Bee Olive Replacement Earbud Tips
Bore size: semi-wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: Firm and stiff
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

These eartips rival most “vocal” eartips I have tried for under US$10. Very good bass punch and dynamics as well. My only gripe is they feel a bit too stiff for my ears.

Purchased from Yongse Taobao Official Store

NF Audio MS42 IEM Silicone Ear Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and supple
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 3.75

These are probably the smoothest eartips I have tried. Its relaxed and delicate sound is neither harsh nor strident. Low-end has good body and punch. Midrange has that silky “tube-like” tonality. Upper-registers are fluid and gentle. Soundstage and imaging are average. Boy… It feels like I am having a head massage every time I listen to these. Very comfortable both in sound and in fitment. Highly recommended!

Purchased from NF Audio Official Taobao Store

Nostalgia Audio Extra Wide Bore XWB Eartips
Bore size: very wide
Stem length: short
Feel: flexible but firm

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.00

Hailing from the vibrant city of Hong Kong, Nostalgia Audio is an IEM brand that has quietly carved its niche in the audiophile world. Their XWB eartips mark their debut in the realm of eartips, and let me tell you, these little wonders are a pure delight for any audio enthusiast seeking a touch of extra sparkle in their upper registers without compromising the depth and richness of the low end.

Compared to the Eletech Baroque eartips, the XWB eartips stand out with their sturdier and more substantial cap material, offering a sense of reassurance and durability. And when pitted against the Divinus Velvet eartips, the XWB eartips emerge victorious with their ability to inject a dash of extra zing into the treble, resulting in a livelier and more energetic listening experience.

In a world of eartips, the XWB eartips shine as a star of their own, offering a unique blend of clarity and vibrancy that elevates your music listening experience to new heights. If you’re seeking a touch of extra sparkle without sacrificing the fullness of your sound, the XWB eartips are your perfect companion.

Purchased from Super King (Hong Kong)

Nuarl Block Ear+ Antibacterial Silicon Earpiece
Bore size: wide (5mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25

If you like the comfort of JVC Spiral Dot++, you will enjoy this. A crispier and more sparkly version of Spiral Dot++. Not suitable for bright-sounding earphones. Comes in multiple sizes of Small, Medium-small, Medium, and Large.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

Nuarl Block Ear+ 6 Antibacterial Silicon Earpiece (for 6mm bore)
Bore size: wide (6mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.00

A firmer version of Nural Block Ear+. Slightly bass-boosted and mid-bass feels more thumpy than Nuarl Block Ear+. Smoother treble and more luscious midrange. Comes in multiple sizes of Small, Medium-small, Medium, and Large.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

Nuarl Block Ear+ 7 Antibacterial Silicon Earpiece (for 7mm bore)
Bore size: wide (7mm)
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

Same as Nural Block Ear+6 but with a 7mm bore diameter. The bigger opening presents a more forward midrange and vocals. Comes in multiple sizes of Small, Medium-small, Medium, and Large.

Purchased from Amazon Japan

O

Openaudio Studio 003 Earfits
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: very soft and rubbery
Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.50

Do take note that these eartips fit smaller than normal (I am wearing Large instead of my usual Medium). The “003” on the case does remind me of something that is also rubbery and made of latex. Nonetheless, this eartip has a clear and sparkly presentation especially in the upper-mids and treble. Bass and midbass are attenuated. Unsuitable for bright and lean sounding earphones.

Purchased from Openaudio Studio Taobao Store

Ostry OS100 Tuning Eartips (Blue)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.25
Vocal presence: 3.5
Sounds 90% identical to SpinFit CP145 but with a touch more bass and narrower soundstage.
Purchased from Ostry Official Store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Ostry OS200 Tuning Eartips (Red)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.25
Soundstage: 3
Vocal presence: 3.5
Similar to Ostry OS100 but with a tad more bass and less crisp in the treble. Quite a balance-sounding eartip. Narrows soundstage.
Purchased from Ostry Official Store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Ostry OS300 Tuning Eartips (Black)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and sturdy
Bass: 5
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 2.5
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 3.5
The most bass-heavy Ostry tuning eartips of all. Also rolls-off treble the most. It adds tightness and punchiness to the overall sound. However, I find them a bit too forward for my taste.
Purchased from Ostry Official Store on Taobao (Mainland China)

Ortofon silicone eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: very soft and pliable
Bass: 2.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
For good midrange, best female vocal, tames bass and brightens treble
Purchased from Ortofon direct (Denmark)

P

Penon Audio Liqueur Silicone Eartips (Black)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: grippy and rubbery

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.00

Penon Audio Liqueur eartips stand out from typical TPE options like the SednaEarFit XELASTEC due to their dust and lint resistance. This unique property, stemming from their non-stickiness, makes them a practical choice. The Black version offers a cleaner, clearer, and brighter sound signature compared to the Orange version. However, it sacrifices some punchy bass in favor of increased clarity and transparency.

Purchased from Penon Audio Online Store

Penon Audio Liqueur Silicone Eartips (Orange)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: grippy and rubbery

Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 3.50

Penon Audio Liqueur eartips stand out from typical TPE options like the SednaEarFit XELASTEC due to their dust and lint resistance. This unique property, stemming from their non-stickiness, makes them a practical choice.
In terms of sound presentation, these vibrant orange eartips deliver the most dynamic and punchy performance I’ve encountered thus far. The bass extension, elasticity, and textural detail are truly exceptional, exceeding any other eartips I’ve tried.

However, it’s important to note that vocal clarity and treble extension suffer slightly compared to the Black version of the Liqueur eartips. Despite this, the overall sound remains fun and engaging, making them a compelling option for listeners who prioritize bass impact and energy.

Purchased from Penon Audio Online Store

Pentaconn COREIR Nickel-plated Brass core Eartip (PTM01) 

Bore size: wide 
Stem length: long
Feel: firm, sturdy and gripy

Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.75

At 3,850 Japanese Yen (US$35) for 2 pairs of eartips, the COREIR is currently the second most expensive eartip in my collection right now (most expensive is the Sony EP-NI1000M). However, is it worth the high-price it is asking for? Personally, I say “no” and here are the reasons… 

I find the COREIR eartip only suitable for certain types of IEM, particularly those with a very warm, very fully low-end and a recessed midrange, such as the Acoustune HS1650.

When used on Harman-tuned IEMs such as the Tanchjim Oxygen, Salnotes Zero or TangZu Wan’er, the COREIR thins midbass, pushes the midrange and vocals a tad too forward to my liking. Also, occasionally it can sound shouty and nasally especially on female vocal tracks. 

Because of its forward presentation, I find the soundstage a bit narrow. Air and separation around the instruments isn’t as spacious  or as defined as I expected.

Comfort-wise, COREIR falls in between Moondrop Spring Tips and Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC, although not as grippy as the latter. However, because of the brass core, having the correct fit is crucial… More than ordinary silicone eartips in fact. Just like many TPE eartips, these can heat up the inner-ear and cause discomfort. 

I was disappointed to be honest… But some of you may find good use with the COREIR. I know quite a few reviewers like it. 

Purchased from Fujiya-Avic, Japan. 

Q

Queen Lab Hybrid Silicone Memory
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5 
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4 5
Exceptionally good vocal presentations for hybrid. Tighter bass and clearer midrange compared to Symbio W. My favorite hybrid eartip. 
Purchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

R

Radius Deep Mount
Bore size: small
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
Just like the company’s slogan – Pure Comes True, Deep Mount is the most transparent of all eartips I have tested. Not suitable if your earphone is already bright.
Purchased from Bic Camera (Osaka, Japan)

Radius Deep Mount Clear (Antibacterial)
Bore size: small
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and gripy

Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 4.75

Thank you Jeremy Phua for bringing this eartips to my attention. I didn’t notice Radius came out with a clear version of their ever popular Deep Mount until he mentioned it.

These sound a smidgen cleaner and clearer than the regular black version. Soundstage is a bit better. I could hear more air and separations around the vocals and every instruments.

Regardless of colours, Radius Deep Mount still remain as one of the most transparent eartips I have tested.

Purchased from Amazon.jp

Raptgo Adaptive Ear Tips

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: pliable and firm
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.25

These eartips from Raptgo come with pivoting cap design similar to that in SpinFit. They add “round-meatiness” (a.k.a smoothness and body) to the music without clouding the lower-midrange. The vocals are forward but still very pleasant. I would rank its sonic signatures between SpinFit CP-145 and Final Audio Type E eartips. Same as Audiosense S400.

Purchased from Raptgo Official Taobao Store

RHA dual density silicone eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.5
These eartips enhance details and stereo imaging extremely well. Tighten bass. Projects midrange and treble frequencies more than some eartips. Not recommended for bright earphones.
Purchased from RHA in UK

Rose Technics QT Series Eartips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.25

A very typical wide bore eartips. Nothing special or unique I find. It is a very comfortable set of eartips nonetheless.

Purchased from Rose Technics Taobao Official Store

S

Sennheiser Momentum Eartips
Bore size: regular with “sound beam”
Stem length: very short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 3. 5
Vocal presence: 3.5
This is the stock eartip from Sennheiser Momentum series of earphones. It has a bold, thick and robust sound signature with buttery-smoooth upper-midrange and treble. Can sound overly warm and muddy when used on dark-sound earphones. Clarity, soundstage, imaging, and details are average.
Purchased from Sennheiser Singapore

Simphonio Diamond Earfit
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 2.50
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 5.0
Vocal presence: 5.0
This eartip has rhombus patterns stamped around the cap (or umbrella) thus the name “diamond” Earfit. This eartip bears some resemblance to Moondrop Spring Tip, however Diamond Earfit is a bit shorter height-wise. Vocal is forward with very good presence. Midrange and treble feels more open and livelier than Spring Tips. Just like Spring Tips, Diamond Earfit thins bass and mid-bass, reduces note-weight. Skip if you prefer bassier eartip.
Purchased from RoadRunner Taobao Store

Softears Liquid Silicone Ear TipsBore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.0Midrange: 5.0Treble: 4.50Soundstage: 5.0Vocal presence: 5.0
Very pricey eartips from Softears. Appearance and texture feel just like SednaEarfit XELASTEC, although it says “Liquid Silicone”. Frankly, I have no clue what liquid silicone is other than those used in aesthetics surgery.

However, I find these eartips sound very much cleaner, clearer and airier than both XELASTEC and Crystal. Midrange and vocal presentation are outstanding. Softears Liquid Silicone does not have the upper-midrange “ringing” that plagues the original XELASTEC eartips. Unfortunately, these eartips attracts dirt and dust just like XELASTEC, so clean them regularly if you decide to try.
Purchased from Softears Taobao Official Store

SonicMemory Cup Tips
Bore size: cone-shaped, tempered (4mm nozzle end, 5mm bell end)
Stem length: short
Feel: medium soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 3.75
An alternative to Epro Horn-shaped Tips. It has an overall softer yet balanced tonality. Bass not as impactful and robust. Vocals don’t stand out as much. Nonetheless, I do enjoy the “air” it gives to the sound. Also, these eartips present slightly wider soundstage and more spacious than Epro. Comes with antibacterial properties added, which is a good thing if you don’t have sensitive skin.
Purchased from SonicMemory Taobao Official Store

SonicMemory Fungus Tips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft with a sturdy stem
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 3.50
These eartips look like little pink champignon mushrooms thus the name “fungus” tips. A balanced-sounding eartip with emphasis in bass and low-midrange. Vocals sound slightly nasally and laid-back. Treble lacks air and extension. Soundstage is of average width. If you prefer an open and airy sound with wide-staging, do consider its sibling the SonicMemory Cup Tips. Infused with antibacterial properties.
Purchased from SonicMemory Official Store on Taobao

Sony Clear White
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: pliable and soft
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.5
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 4.5
I consider the Clear White an improvement over Sony Triple Comfort. This enhances overall clarity and vocal presence without sounding overly bright or harsh. Top-end sounds more airy. Bass texture improved as well. My only gripe is it isn’t as smooth as I would prefer but this is a small trade off in my opinion.
Purchased from Amazon.jp

Sony EP-NI1000M Noise Isolation Earbud Tips

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: spongy and sturdy
Bass: 5.0
Midrange: 4. 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 5.0

This is the most expensive eartips in my collection as of October 2021. These tips retail for US$20 A PAIR! Yes, you hear that right… Two Hamiltons for a pair of eartips!

Deemed to be a replacement for Sony Triple Comfort (EP-TC50), these are eartips with an attitude. They sound like silicone but seal and isolate like a good pair of foam tips. Extremely comfortable and stable fit.

Are they better than XELASTEC? All I can say is both are very different. If you are always a “foam person”, the EP-NI1000 sounds more lively and open than, say, Comply or Dekoni.

Heard from a friend that these eartips don’t last long, so it is better to keep them dry and away from heat. Purchased from Amazon, Japan

Sony Spare Earbuds EP-EX10A / EP-EX11

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5

Neutral tonality with warm mid-bass and slight treble roll-off. Midrange is smooth and laid-back. Ideal choice for bright and lean sounding earphones.
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

Sony Triple Comfort
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: spongy and sturdy
Bass: 5
Midrange: 4
Treble: 3.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.25
For similar to Sony Hybrids but with boosted bass
Purchased from Bic Camera (Osaka, Japan)

Sony Hybrid (discontinued)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
For neutral tonality with treble roll-off
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SoundMAGIC Silicone Eartips (Bowl-shape)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and supple
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.25

These wide-bore eartips unlike many do not introduce and add glare or brightness. They remind me of JVC Spiral Dot but with a slightly more forward vocal presentation and wider staging. Good stuff if you love JVC Spirial Dot but hate its high price.

Purchased from SoundMAGIC Official Taobao Store

SoundMAGIC Silicone Eartips (For Sports)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and supple
Bass: 2.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.00

Similar to TFZ “Pumpkin”, these eartips are shaped like jack-o’-lanterns. They suppress bass and sub-bass like nobody’s business. Their “enhanced” upper-midrange and treble are the two main reasons why people would buy them. Then again, these look more like Halloween novelty items than proper audio products. The soundstage is open and airy but lacks depth and dimension. Great eartips to sabotage your basshead friend.

Purchased from SoundMAGIC Official Taobao Store

SoundMAGIC Silicone Eartips (Bullet-shape)
Bore size: very narrow
Stem length: short
Feel: firm and supple
Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 3.00
Treble: 3.50
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 3.50

Very mediocre eartips. They congest bass and low-midrange so much, making the lower-registers sound murky and blurry. On a positive note, they feel comfortable and seal well in my ears.

Purchased from SoundMAGIC Official Taobao Store

SoundMAGIC Silicone Eartips (Pumpkin-shape)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable

Bass: 2.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

These pumpkin-shaped eartips dramatically reduce bass and sub-bass frequencies. Their emphasis on upper-midrange and treble frequencies is the primary selling point. While their unique design might suggest a novelty item, they offer a surprisingly open and airy soundstage, though lacking some depth. Overall, their sound transparency is excellent.

Purchased from SoundMAGIC Official Taobao Store

SPEAR Labs nFORM XTR SERIES 500
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: spongy and sturdy
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 3.25
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4.25
An alternative to Sony Hybrids (EP-TC50M). Compared to the Sony, nFORM has a clearer and tighter bass, with forward midrange. Human voice can sound nasally (a common problem with foam-based eartips). Soundstage is narrow and stereo imaging less distinctive and precise. Nonetheless, nFORM is extremely comfortable for long listening sessions. Suitable for bright and lean sounding earphones.
Purchased from MTMT Audio, Hong Kong

SpinFit CP100
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.25
For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

SpinFit CP100+
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 3.75
Soundstage: 4.0
Vocal presence: 3.75
Slight improvement over the original CP-100 especially in the midrange and upper-midrange. However, I feel the top-end is less airy than CP-100. Bass also lacks a bit of punch and dynamics. The “plus” addendum probably comes from the better portrayal of the human voice. True enough, vocals sound slightly more forward and crispier.

Imaging, focusing, instrument and vocal separation definitely improved over its predecessor. Personally, CP-145 is still my most favourite SpinFit.
Purchased from Amazon.sg (Singapore)

SpinFit CP145
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.5
For neutral tonality with emphasis in midrange and vocal
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP155
Bore size: regular
Stem length: long
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 3.5
Vocal presence: 4.25
1 mm longer than CP-100 and CP-145, the additional length and bullet-shaped caps of the CP-155 allow deeper insertion to bring more bass and fuller vocal. 
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP220
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular (double flange)
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4
For neutral tonality with emphasis in bass, midrange and vocal. For clarity and bigger soundstage, choose CP-240.
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP240
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular (double flange)
Feel: soft and sturdy
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 4
Exceptional clarity with good treble extension. Soundstage is one of the biggest I have heard. Vocal presentation is forward. Can get sibilant when matched with bright earphones.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

SpinFit CP350
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short (shallow fit)
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 2.0
Midrange: 5
Treble: 5
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.5
These eartips are originally meant for TWS wireless earpieces but a friend of mine suggested they are very good at cutting down bass and midbass. Indeed, these are the “Diffuse Field Target-equivalent” of eartips. They clean up the bass.

Reduces mid-bass bloat or muddiness. Upper-midrange is sparkly and treble extension is one of the best I have heard among universal eartips. Vocal is forward with good clarity. NOTE: SpinFit CP-350 has a very shallow fit. Make sure the earphone nozzle length is at least 5mm in order to fit securely.
Purchased from Stereo Electronics (Singapore)

SpinFit CP360
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.0
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4.75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence’ 5
These eartips are meant for true wireless earpieces. If you find SpinFit CP-350 too short, this one fits between regular CP-145 and CP-350. Bass and low-mids are stronger than CP-350. Vocal is forward with good clarity.
Purchased from ConnectIT (Singapore)

SpinFit CP500
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 4.25
Midrange: 5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.0
A lesser known SpinFit model. CP-500 gives tighter, punchier bass, better vocal presentation than the popular (and common) CP-100 and CP-145. May add sibilance and harshness to bright-sounding earphonesPurchased from MTMT Audio (Hong Kong)

SpinFit OMNI
Bore size: tampered, narrow to wide
Stem length: regular, with dual layered core design
Feel: soft and flexible
Bass: 3.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 5.00
SpinFit OMNI is the direct successor to the CP-360, with a longer nozzle stem and the distinction of being the first SpinFit product to offer “in-between” sizes, which are common among eartip brands such as JVC Spiral Dot and Azla SednaEarFit.

Compared to the CP-360, the OMNI delivers a thumpier bass response with heavier note weight, forward vocals with good clarity, and treble extension that is slightly less pronounced.

Compared to the W1, the OMNI has a shallower fit and does not provide as good of an ear seal. The low end of the W1 is also more substantial. However, the OMNI offers better vocal clarity, cleaner and crispier highs, and a slightly deeper soundstage.

TAKE NOTE: OMNI will not fit nozzle diameter larger than 5.5mm.

Purchased from Amazon (Singapore)

SpinFit W1
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and grippy

Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5.0
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.75
Vocal presence: 4.50

The SpinFit W1 is probably the most anticipated silicone eartip release from the Taiwanese company in recent years, and they certainly deliver. If you like Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC but dislike its “dust magnet” and tacky properties, SpinFit has answered your prayers with the W1. A hybrid between XELASTEC and Moondrop Spring Tips, SpinFit W1 gives superb clarity, improves soundstage and stereo imaging and cleans up bass and mid-bass. However, I find it unsuitable for bright or harsh-sounding earphones. May exaggerates metallic timbre if and when implemented incorrectly.

Purchased from Amazon US.

Symbio Orange Peel
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 4
Midrange: 3
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4.25
Vocal presence: 3.5
Good midrange. Punchier bass, better treble extension and more open-sounding compare to Symbio W.
Purchased from Symbio direct (Hungary)

Symbio W
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 3 75
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.5
For good midrange, slight treble roll-off
Purchased from Symbio direct (Hungary)

Symbio Eartips Wa
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 3 75
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 3.50

This is Symbio W with a softer stem. Because of this, I feel that Symbio Wa doesn’t put as much pressure in the ear can thus slightly more comfortable than other oranges. Sonic-wise, both are similar.

Purchased from Symbio direct (Hungary)

Symbio Eartips Wn
Bore size: regular
Stem length: short
Feel: sturdy and very firm
Bass: 3.25
Midrange: 4.75
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 3.75

Barely 1mm taller than Symbio W, the Wn sounds a bit more vocal forward otherwise it is identical to the W in every aspect.

Purchased from Symbio direct (Hungary)

T

Tanchjim T-APB Air Pressure Balance Silicone Eartips T300T (Treble Enhancing)
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.5
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4.5 
Soundstage: 3.75
Vocal presence: 4What’s is T-APB? Simply put it, a hexagonal-shaped internal wall of the nozzle that Tanchjim claims “enhance the comfortness (is there such a word?) by evenly balancing the air pressure inside the ear canal, thus to prevent swelling of the ear canal caused by prolonged use of earphone”

… Marketing aside, the T300T (Treble Enhancing) eartip does pushes some high frequency through but it causes the entire bass spectrum and low-mids to “muddle up”, resulting in a loss of texture and low-end details. Does not go well with “thick-sounding” IEMs but good match for leaner-sounding ones BUT be very careful as it might brighten sound too much. 
Purchased from Hifigo

Tanchjim T-APB Air Pressure Balance Silicone Eartips T300B (Bass Enhancing)
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 3.75What’s is T-APB? Simply put it, a hexagonal-shaped internal wall of the nozzle that Tanchjim claims “enhance the comfortness (is there such a word?) by evenly balancing the air pressure inside the ear canal, thus to prevent swelling of the ear canal caused by prolonged use of earphone”

… Marketing aside, the T300T (Treble Enhancing) eartip is surprisingly neutral despite the “Treble Enhancing” name tag. I find the vocal slightly laid-back and lower-mids a tad muffled. Otherwise, a good choice for IEMs with diffused-field tuning, such as those from Tanchjim and Moondrop.
Purchased from Hifigo

TangZu Tang Sancai (唐三彩) Advanced Eartips (Wide Bore)

Bore size: extra wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and pliable

Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.75
Vocal presence: 4.50

Tang Sancai (唐三彩), known as “Tang Dynasty three-color ware,” refers to a type of glazed ceramic pottery that originated in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The term “Sancai” (三彩) translates to “three colors” in Chinese, which refers to the typical color palette used in this type of pottery. Characterized by its distinctive tricolor glaze, Tang Sancai pottery consists of a combination of yellow, green, blue, and white colors, which explains why these eartips come in yellow (Small), green (Medium), and blue (Large).

These eartips are upper midrange forward with a sense of clarity and space, without sacrificing tonal weight. I prefer this to Tang Sancai balanced eartips. Compared to my reference – the SpinFit CP-145, Tang Sancai wide bore sounds cleaner, clearer and has more texture. Treble extension is much better, providing more space around the instruments.

Compared to the crowd favorite – TRI Clarion, Tang Sancai wide bore sounds less open and not as crisp. Soundstage is a tinge narrower as well. However, it has a heavier note weight than Clarion.

The final comparison is with Moondrop Spring Tips. Here is where both eartips share more similarities. Both eartips are upper-mid forward but Tang Sancai wide bore sounds a tad smoother and less sibilant. It also seals better in my ears but fit is subjective.

Do take note that my audiophile buddy broke one of his Tang Sancai wide bore eartips while trying them the first time. Be very careful when swapping tips.

Purchased from Angelears AliExpress Store.

TangZu Tang Sancai (唐三彩) Advanced Eartips (Balanced)

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: firm and pliable
Bass: 4.50
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 3.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

Tang Sancai (唐三彩), known as “Tang Dynasty three-color ware,” refers to a type of glazed ceramic pottery that originated in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The term “Sancai” (三彩) translates to “three colors” in Chinese, which refers to the typical color palette used in this type of pottery. Characterized by its distinctive tricolor glaze, Tang Sancai pottery consists of a combination of yellow, green, blue, and white colors, which explains why these eartips come in yellow (Small), green (Medium), and blue (Large).

These eartips are vocal forward, full-bodied, and bass-heavy, with an average soundstage projection and a slight top-end congestion. Compared to my usual reference, the SpinFit CP-145, Tang Sancai sounds bassier, more robust, and fuller. Vocals are pushed forward with a bit of nasal undertone, especially on husky female vocals, such as Patricia Barber. Treble extension is much better on the CP-145, providing more space for instruments to breathe.

When compared to Acoustune AET07 and its 07 variants, both eartips become more similar. However, to my ears, AET07 sounds cleaner and clearer. On the other hand, Tang Sancai sounds bolder, with thumpier bass and smoother overall sound.

The last comparison is with Final Audio Type-E. To me, Final Type-E is like a glass of smooth, rich, and creamy oak-aged whiskey. Tang Sancai’s full-bodied presentation can’t match Type-E’s. However, Tang Sancai excels in vocal projection, has slightly better treble extension, and delivers a snappier mid-bass thump. In terms of soundstage, Final Type-E is better but not by much.

Purchased from Angelears AliExpress Store.

Tennmak Whirlwind
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: sturdy and firm
Bass: 2
Midrange: 4.5
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 4
Vocal presence: 4.5
Reduces bass and mid-bass significantly. Let vocal shines through.
Purchased from Tennmak Store on AliExpress

TFZ “Pumpkin” Silicone Ear Tips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 2.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.50
Vocal presence: 4.50

Shaped like a white pumpkin, these eartips suppress bass and sub-bass like nobody’s business. Their “enhanced” upper-midrange and treble are the two main reasons why people would buy them. Then again, these look more like Halloween novelty items than proper audio products. Soundstage is open and airy but lacks depth. Overall, sound transparency is surprisingly good. Great eartips to sabotage your basshead friend.

Purchased from TFZ Taobao Official Store

TRI Clarion
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

These are probably the most sibilant eartips I have tested so far thus avoid using them on earphones that sound bright and tizzy. These eartips reduce mid-bass and sub-bass to the point whereby there is very little bass rumble. Vocals are pushed forward. Of all the traits, what impresses me most is the huge soundstage they project.

Purchased from KB EAR / TRI AliExpress Official Store

TRN Silicone Eartips
Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: flexible with firm stem
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 3.25
Treble: 3.0
Soundstage: 2.50
Vocal presence: 3.0
Listening to these eartips is like having a thick veil covers the entire frequency spectrum. They simply muffle sound! Bass is clumpy, lacks texture and details. Midrange and upper-registers cover by a layer of haze. Vocal is lackluster and lifeless. Staging is flat and narrow. Imagining is fuzzy. One of the worst eartips I have tested so far.
Purchased from TRN Official Store on AliExpress

TRN T-Ear Tips

Bore size: regular
Stem length: very short
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.50
Treble: 4.50
Soundstage: 4.75
Vocal presence: 5.00

These onion-shaped eartips fit smaller and shorter than, say, SpinFit. Overall tonality is upper-midrange and treble emphasis, with a hint of boosted bass. Vocal presence is good but forward and sibilant, so be careful when pairing with bright-sounding IEMs. Soundstage is spacious with good depth and height.

Review sample from TRN.

U

Unique Melody Liquid Silicone Ear Tips (Standard)
Bore size: wide bore
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 3.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00

Made of the same transparent liquid silicone material as Softears UC eartips but at a lower cost. I find these tulip-shaped eartips sound clean, clear and airy. Midrange, vocal presentation, and soundstage are outstanding. Bass and mid-bass are on the lean side. Unfortunately, these eartips attract dirt and dust, so clean them regularly if you use them frequently.

WARNING: Due to its EXTREMELY short stem, DO NOT use earphones with short nozzle.

Purchased from Unique Melody Official Store

Unique Melody Liquid Silicone Ear Tips (Vented)
Bore size: wide bore
Stem length: extremely short
Feel: soft and grippy
Bass: 0.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 5.00
Vocal presence: 5.00 (SHOUTY!!!)

It isn’t a typo error. The bass score is 0.00, meaning ZERO bass. Vented means no seal. Without a good ear-seal, bass disappears. There is no noise isolation as well. Other than vent holes on the cap, it is the same eartip as standard Unique Melody Liquid Silicone Ear Tips with SHOUTY upper registers!

WARNING: Due to its EXTREMELY short stem, DO NOT use earphones with short nozzle.

Purchased from Unique Melody Official Store

Whizzer Easytips ET100 (natural)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 3.75
Midrange: 4.0
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 4.5
Vocal presence: 3.5

W

A very interesting eartip that looks like a toilet plunger. The shape may be odd but the sound isn’t. Balanced, clean and clear tonality that is neither too bright nor too bassy. Seals and isolates well too.
Purchased from OperaFactory Taobao Official Store

Whizzer Easytips SS20 (soundstage)

Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and pliable
Bass: 3.5
Midrange: 4.25
Treble: 4.25
Soundstage: 5.0
Vocal presence: 3.5

As the title implies, this eartip improves soundstage, and this isn’t a gimmick. It really adds dimension to sound, giving it a more spacious presentation.
Purchased from OperaFactory Taobao Official Store

Whizzer Easytips VC20 (vocal)

Bore size: regular
Stem length: regular
Feel: soft and firm
Bass: 4.0
Midrange: 3.75
Treble: 4.0
Soundstage: 2.5
Vocal presence: 2.5

Not very good. This eartip clouds midrange and boosts low-mid a bit too much for my taste. Resolution is poor as well. Everything just sounds stuffy and dull. Perfect for bright-sounding IEMs though.
Purchased from OperaFactory Taobao Official Store

Z

ZhuAudio (竹林鸟) Bamboo Rhyme (竹韵) Latex Bamboo Tips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: regular
Feel: plush and grippy
Bass: 4.00
Midrange: 5.00
Treble: 5.00
Soundstage: 4.75
Vocal presence: 5.00

These latex eartips remind me of FEAULLE H570 latex eartips but cost a fraction less and come in 3 size-pairs per box. Overall tonality is bright and lively. Bass is girthier than H570 with a good thump. Vocals are sibilant but give particularly good enunciation. Stage and imaging are quite good. Resolves nuances very well. Fit and comfort are good. These don’t feel sticky or attract dust like Azla SednaEarFit XELASTEC.

Purchased from ZhuAudio Taobao Store.

Z Reviews Render Eartips
Bore size: wide
Stem length: short
Feel: soft and spongy

Bass: 4.75
Midrange: 4.00
Treble: 4.00
Soundstage: 4.00
Vocal presence: 4.50

Zeo’s Render hybrid eartips offer a compelling combination of comfort and exceptional isolation, surpassing the softness of Symbio W tips. Their bass performance takes center stage, delivering a punchy and satisfying low-end without the mid-bass bloat common in many foam eartips. In terms of sound signature, they closely resemble the very expensive Sony EP-N1000M, albeit with a slight compromise in upper-midrange clarity. Compared to Zeo’s other favorite, the Dekoni Bulletz foam tips, the Render eartips offer a significant boost in clarity, vocal presence, and bass impact.

Purchased from HiFiGo Online Store.

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The dongle itself seems well-made and is quite a purty thing, with silver wire and nicely-engraved connectors. The cx31993 is strictly plug and play (no drivers needed) and its advertised 96/384kHz sampling is legit. It runs cool and doesn’t hog a lot of battery.

The cx31993 presents a lean, neutral-to-slightly-bright tonality without audible coloration or grain; background is very quiet and presentation is open and airy.  Connected to my LG V50, the cx31993 paired well with my more efficient IEMs, noticeably improving the resolution and placing more space between the performers.

Combining it with the $5 KZ EDR1 was sublime. The cx31993 was also a big improvement over the flat, colorless stock soundcards in my Kindle Fire and Dell laptop.  

However, it became readily apparent that the 31993 lacks the output power to effectively drive less efficient buds and cans (such as 150 Ohm Beyerdynamics); it particularly struggled to control the low end on more challenging loads.  

Even the Blon A8 whose 32 Ohm impedance doesn’t seem daunting, seemed to lose composure and sounded somewhat flabby and bass-shy when paired with the 31993.

Unless you’re really budget-impaired, the $23 Meze Master HiFi is the better buy, with more power and overall presence, although I actually thought the cx31993 was a tad cleaner and more transparent (though less energetic) than the $42 Tempotec Sonata HD.

This isn’t the megacheap miracle its proponents claim and probably won’t work as your daily driver. It is, however,  a useful upgrade on to PCs and other devices and ultimately earns a place in my ever-expanding collection of dongles

Non-disclaimer: bought it myself 

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Cons — Balanced circuit only adds power but not headroom; two headphone sockets too close together; very high power consumption (on phone).

Executive Summary

The $109 Hidizs S9 Pro is a very powerful, linear, and good sounding portable headphone DAC & amp that features single-ended and balanced circuits.

Introduction

Ever since Gordon Rankin introduced the 2016 versions of the AudioQuest DragonFly Black/Red that could be used with a phone because of their intelligent power management, companies have jumped on that bandwagon. Many of them. After all, such devices are flexible in that you can use them with your computer and your phone…and you can migrate them to new devices should you replace the old ones. With no battery of their own, such dongles have an almost infinite life.

Some protagonists already predict the end of the dap as more and more listeners don’t want to have two devices in their pocket. I personally have been a huge dongle fan since 2016, whereas my dap is catching dust in the drawer.

Hidizs have been very active in the portable DAC-amp category lately, and co-blogger Loomis Johnson covered the original Hidizs S9. The S9 PRO is an upgrade in that it offers a different dac chip and two circuits, a balanced and a single-ended one.

Specifications

Physical Things and Usability

There is a little LED light between them indicating

Functionality and Operation

The Hidizs S9 PRO works like so many dongles of its kind. You connect it to your phone or computer, it is source-powered and operated, and therefore does not contain any on-board controls.

A Summary of what it does

• Can be connected to Windows/Mac computers or Android/iOS sources
• Works as a pre-amplifier or dac when connected to a dedicated headphone amplifier
• Features two circuits: 3.5 mm single ended and 2.5 mm balanced
• Drives small loudspeakers through its 3.5 mm output
• Handles even power-hungry headphones well, imo up to 300 Ω

…and of what it does not

• …has no physical controls
• …needs no battery; draws power from source…and lots of it
• …both sockets are too close together to operate simultaneously
• …is not driverless: needs a USB driver for Window computer
• …needs an Apple camera adapter or other third-party lightning cable for connecting to an iOS device

Amplification and Power Consumption

Amplification is stellar. CqTek of the Hi End Portable Blog measured the Hidizs S9 Pro with an oscilloscope. His results exceed the manufacturer’s claims. Hidizs recommends their S9 Pro to handle power-hungry headphones with impedances up to 300 Ω. And it drives my Sennheiser HD 600 well.

In my 3h battery drain test of several dongles, the DragonFly Red had the lowest consumption on my iPhone 5S, the Hidizs S9 consumed about 2-3 times as much, which placed it last.

Power Consumption Test: Parameters and Raw Results

I tested the power consumption of several portable headphone amps connected to my iPhone 5S. The conditions were as identical as possible: 3 h test, volume calibrated to 85 dB  ± 0.5 dB white noise with Dayton microphone, no sim card, BT off, no other apps open; network on, 32 ohm Blon BL-03 iem, Genesis’s Supper’s Ready (from the Seconds Out album) played in an endless loop.

The iPhone’s battery was fully charged at the start of the test and the remaining charge was measured thereafter. The result is shown in the table below. Since the tests were performed at different times and considering the ongoing battery deterioration, the results have to be seen with a grain of salt.

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Sound

Equipment used: Macbook Air/iPhone SE first generation; Sennheiser HD 600 & HD 25, Sennheiser IE 300, Sennheiser IE 400 PRO, Moondrop Aria, Shozy Form 1.4; AudioQuest JitterBug FMJ.

TL;DR: I have been testing and testing and testing dongles lately, until I got dizzy. The Hidizs S9 PRO does not disappoint, it sounds good even when you use more expensive dongles as reference, and it has no deal-breaking flaws. It shows a strictly linear and neutral signature across the frequency spectrum and sounds rather natural. Fortunately, it does not have the metallic, analytical, sterile sound of some budget dongles, as reported to some extent for the original S9, for example.

This linearity creates clarity in the midrange which makes for good spatial cues but voices are a bit leaner than with pricier dongles. The bass is as crisp and tight as it should be. Macrodynamics and soundstage are average in its class. There is essentially no difference in headroom or soundstage between the single-ended and balanced circuits.

Using the Hidizs S9 PRO with the AudioQuest JitterBug FMJ (phone and computer alike) added substance (richness), depth, and smoothness to the sound.

Hidizs S9 PRO compared

Considering the selection of dongles on the market, it has become impossible to compare all of them. As a rule of thumb, pricier models do NOT have necessarily more amplification but a better dac in my experience, which translates to better sound. So your money really is in the sound quality.

“Better” in this context means richer/fuller, with better microdynamics (“the small things”) and macrodynamics. It also means more organic/natural as opposed to digital. These improvements result in a better musicality. Cheap dongles may produce sound, expensive ones may product music. It is similar to your desktop stacks.

The Hidizs S9 PRO has essentially the same specifications as the $85 Shanling UA2 and both feature single-ended and balanced circuits. Although amplification power is practically identical, sound is slightly different. The Shanling has a thicker, boosted low end, a smoother lower midrange and a less edgy top end. Vocals are more rounded but are also more prone to be covered up by the mid-bass. The coin toss between the two is whether you like it warmer/bassier or more neutral but the general quality is the same.

All dongles mentioned below vary in features, I mainly focus on sound quality.

The $300 AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt offers a richer and more intimate midrange and an organic smoothness across the frequency range, while not being as powerful. All three models mentioned so far feature the same dac chip and the Cobalt offers the best implementation by far. In the end, you pay a premium for sound quality and not for amplification power or features. The Cobalt is sound wise above anything I have tested but it is also the by far most expensive. It is definitely diminishing return and you get better value in the Hidizs S9 Pro.

The Hidizs S9 PRO is not as dynamic (“punchy”) as the $200 DragonFly Red, and it also cannot offer the Red’s full midrange (which is also a bit behind the Cobalt’s). The Red’s midrange is also more forward but it has no balanced circuit and weaker amplification..

The $129 EarMen Eagle is power wise also behind the Hidizs S9 PRO, does not feature a balanced circuit, but it is more organic, more dynamic, and a bit richer in the midrange. And it has a wider soundstage and better separation but is overall still behind the DragonFly Red. However the differences to the Hidizs S9 PRO are nuances and not earth shattering. Your tradeoff is the lack of a balanced circuit and amplification.

The $120 Earstudio HUD 100 is also 100% linear. Both HS9 PRO and HUD 100 are very close in terms of sound and I may actually fail a blind test between them. Because of its neutrality, the HUD 100 has been my go to for earphone reviewing and tuning.

In summary, you get the sound quality you pay for but some amplification for free. DAC quality (which is largely independent of chip) and therefore sound quality are broadly correlated with price, whereas features and amplification power are not. The more expensive dongles simply sound fuller and more dynamic in analogy to desktop dacs.

The diminishing return probably starts at below $100. It really comes down to personal preferences, expectations, and wallet which one to pick, but pairing a $50 iem with a $300 dongle is as futile as pairing a $1000 iem with a $100 dongle.

Concluding Remarks

The Hidizs S9 PRO joins the gigantic pool of portable, source-powered dac-amps first introduced in phone-compatible versions by AudioQuest in 2016. It offers powerful amplification, single-ended and balanced circuits, low output impedance, and a good sound quality at $100. And the price is right. But it also drains your phone’s battery fast.

Some reviewers put the S9 Pro ahead of the pack even compared to pricier dongles. I cannot really comment as I don’t know all competitors but am not surprised.

It is amazing, how dongle prices have dropped and you have the agony of choice to pick the one that’s best for you. The Hidizs S9 PRO is one of the $100 options to consider. You get a lot for your money. And it works for me, too.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

The Hidizs S9 PRO was kindly provided by Hidizs for my review and I thank them for that.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

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Cons — Midrange attenuation; high battery drain from phone.

Executive Summary

The Shanling UA2 is a slightly off-neutral, rather natural sounding, and very powerful portable DAC/amp with good dynamics that features single-ended and balanced outputs at a budget pice. Compared to some of its much more expensive rivals, the UA2 has a leaner midrange while being competitive in terms of power.

Introduction

Shanling is a Chinese HiFi company established in 1988. They hit the western markets in the early 2000s with premium amplifiers at very competitive prices. At the time, while working in China, I talked to them about getting a 110 V version of one of their famous tube CD-players manufactured. This, unfortunately, failed because of export regulations.

More than half a generation later – Shanling has long established itself as a quality player and brand name around the world – I finally try my first Shanling product, the UA2 Portable USB DAC/Amp. And TL;DR, it is a good one.

Shanling is currently joining an army of companies populating the market with portable dac/amps that turn you phone into a dap. In this ever more crowded field, where the potential buyer cannot try before buying, reviewers like me have to provide the overview. But since it is impossible to test all interesting products, you have to check out a few qualified opinions before pulling the trigger.

Specifications

Physical Things and Usability

In the box are the UA2, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to USB-A adapter. The UA2 body is made of metal and its coating feels smooth and appealing between my fingers.

In contrast to most other dongles does the UA2 offers two different circuits: a single-ended output through a standard 3.5 mm socket and a balanced output through a 2.5 mm socket. Both outputs/sockets work simultaneously. And it is the balanced output that makes the UA2 particularly attractive.

The two headphone sockets are on end, a USB-C port on one the other: the 3.5 mm single-ended socket is reinforced with a thick metal ring in expectation of the higher usage of the two.

There is a little LED light between them indicating sampling rate and connection to a gaming console.

Functionality and Operation

A summary of what it does

• Can be connected to Windows/Mac computers or Android/iOS sources
• Works as a pre-amplifier or dac when connected to a dedicated headphone amplifier
• Features two circuits: 3.5 mm single ended and 2.5 mm balanced
• Drives two earphones/headphones simultaneously through its two outputs
• Drives small loudspeakers through its 3.5 mm output
• Handles even power-hungry headphones well, imo up to 300 Ω

…and of what it does not

• …needs no battery; draws power from source…and lots of it
• …is not driverless: needs a USB driver for Window computer (download)
• …needs an Apple camera adapter or other third-party lightning cable for connecting to an iOS device

The Shanling UA2 has only a single button that serves the purpose of enabling a connected gaming console. It is powered and operated from the source device and decodes Hi Res up to 32 bit/768 kHz and DSD 512.

Shanling are offering their free Eddict player companion app that allows fine tuning the UA2 (and other Shanling products) with Android and iOS devices.

Amplification and Power Management

The Shanling UA2 is powerful. It delivers 125mW @ 32 ohm (single ended) and 195mW @ 32 ohm (balanced) according to the manufacturer. Even the single-ended circuit drives my 300 ohm Sennheiser HD 600 reasonably well.

But the UA2 consumes a lot of battery – twice as much as the AudioQuest DragonFly Black/Red. This makes it less beneficial for mobile use. You certainly need a big battery.

Power Consumption Test: Parameters and Results

I tested the power consumption of several portable headphone amps connected to my iPhone 5S. The conditions were as identical as possible: 3 h test, volume calibrated to 85 dB  ± 0.5 dB white noise with Dayton microphone, no sim card, BT off, no other apps open; network on, 32 ohm Blon BL-03 iem, Genesis’s Supper’s Ready (from the Seconds Out album) played in an endless loop.

The iPhone’s battery was fully charged at the start of the test and the remaining charge was measured thereafter. The result is shown in the table below. Since the tests were performed at different times and considering the ongoing battery deterioration, the results have to be seen with a grain of salt.

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But hold the horses. This is not as bad as you think. Co-blogger Alberto Pittaluga actually likes this drain. But why? For him it is a matter of choices. The Shanling UA2 pushes more current than its competition, which drives low-impedance and low-sensitivity headphones and iems better. After all, transducers are moved by current.

Sound

Equipment used: Macbook Air/iPhone SE first generation; Sennheiser HD 600 / HD 25, Shozy Form 1.4, Meze RAI Solo, BQEYZ Summer.

The Shanling UA2 offers a relatively natural, well rounded, dynamic, appealing sound, but could deserve a richer midrange.

Its sound is slightly off linear and off neutral by a slight bass boost that improves the sound of anemic earphones/headphones, keeps the sound away from sterile, and it adds depth. But, in some earphones, it can also narrow the soundstage and smear into the lower midrange/vocals, which adversely affects separation. The bass rumble becomes weaker under higher impedance loads.

What distinguishes the UA2 from its more expensive competition is not its amplification power…it is its attenuated, recessed, thin and occasionally sharp midrange (in comparison) that is evident in both single-ended and balanced circuits.

Vocals are set back in the UA2 but they are also a bit lean and pointy, they could be smoother, richer, and more intimate. This attenuation may exacerbate shoutiness in some earphones and moves the bass into focus.

But this is very-high level criticism with perfection as reference. The overall sound is dynamic with a good punch, it is not edgy at the upper end and comes off as pleasant during normal recreational listening (I was listening “analytically” for this review).

I assign good musicality and liveliness to the Shanling UA2, it is not technical, sterile, or boring sounding. Overall, the UA2 is more homogenous and natural sounding than the $40 Tempotec Sonata HD PRO or the $70 Tempotec BHD.

The UA2’s balanced circuit does not only deliver more power than the single-ended one, but also a marginally wider and deeper soundstage, improved dynamics and separation, and more intimacy. But it is still affected by the lean midrange.

When comparing the UA2 – I only had more expensive models available – they all rank sonically according to their price. The $120 Earstudio HUD 100 was more linear and cleaner at the bottom end with a wider stage and a headroom similar to the UA2’s balanced circuit’s. This also applied to the $199 EarMen Sparrow (balanced circuit) and $199 Audioquest DragonFly Red but with improved resolution added. The DragonFly Red reproduced voices richer, cleaner, and more intimate.

None of the higher-priced models with single-ended outputs has less headroom than the UA2’s balanced circuit – but also not necessarily more power. This also applies to the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, the smoothest and most natural of them all. More in this video:

Concluding Remarks

To pack my testing results in a single sentence: the $85 Shanling UA2 is a $200 dongle with a thinner midrange. No it does not quite rival, let’s say, the more homogenous DragonFly Red or the EarMen Sparrow sonically, but it offers better value while still sounding very good.

I heard it. Can’t get anything better for $85. Larry Fulton, co-blogger.

Considering the current uber offer of portable DAC/amps in the $100 category, I surely will be asked how the UA2 compares to X, Y, and Z at a similar price. While I cannot answer this question, I speculate its sound quality is hard to beat in its class, and claim that the UA2 is a great choice.

It feels good, is well accessorized, sounds organic, it has two powerful circuits – and also works with portable gaming consoles. And it is a brand-name product with R&D behind it. Is it the new $100 one to beat? Time will tell.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

The UA2 was provided by Shanling and I think them for that. Shanling also kindly included a third-party USB-C to lightning adapter.

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You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

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Cons — 10 kHz driver resonance peak introduces some hardness at higher volumes.

Executive Summary

The Moondrop Aria is a cohesive sounding single dynamic-driver (“DD”) earphone with a good timbre and excellent technical competence that may suffer slightly from a treble peak. It is a “substantial sidegrade up” from the “slower” Starfield at a lower price.

Introduction

I claim to know a bit about Moondrop single-dynamic-driver earphones. Following their trends from with the Harman-target-tuned Kanas Pro Edition (KPE) and Crescent, through the slightly bass-reduced Starfield variety, to the near-diffuse-field tuned SSR and SSP, I recently ended with the premium Illumination. To be continued.

This is not Moondrop’s first Aria model. The previous one has the same cylindrical shells as the Crescent, and both went somewhat under the radar and were discontinued, prematurely (imo). The $30 Crescent was undermining Moondrop’s own marketing by being competition to their $180 KPE. Yes, it was that good. Will the “new” Aria, which has absolutely nothing in common with the “old” one, also be able to compete with Moondrop’s higher-priced models?

The “new” Aria is Moondrop’s first ~$100 model in over a year. It follows the Starfield by frequency response, which is broadly a bass-reduced Harman target – now with a treble boost. Sound wise both follow the same scheme with the Aria being more cohesive and “disciplined” to my ears. It differs from the lower-priced SSR/SSP by its reduced hotness and better staging.

The similarities between the Starfield and the Aria have been recorded by many reviewers. While this does not come as a surprise, there are distinct differences and – spoiler alert – I prefer the Moondrop Aria for many reasons, from haptic and ergonomics to sound. I actually like it A LOT.

Specifications

Physical Things and Usability

Yes, the Moondrop Aria also offers improved ergonomics. The earpieces have shrunk compared to its older $100-200 single-DD siblings, at least on the outside: the faceplates have become flat so that they sit flush with the ears, the “cherries” don’t stick out as far anymore. Fit and comfort are as good as before and isolation is ok.

The textile cable has no mentionable microphonics and feels as smooth and attractive between the fingers as the earpieces themselves with their matte metal finish. The homogenous presentation is rounded off by the nifty box – could have been a bit more roomy. I take it, Moondrop’s target keyword for the Aria was “compact”…from storage through appearance to sound.

Tonality and Technicalities

Equipment used: MacBook Air/iPhone SE (1st gen.) + AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt; iPod Classic (6th gen.) with Helm DB12 THX mobile amp.

The elephant first: from my holistic view, the Moondrop Aria is a single DD with a tight bottom and a well extended top end, the synergy of which results in a very articulate presentation with extremely good cohesion. The midrange definition further benefits from a 10 kHz driver resonance peak that also introduces some hardness. Nevertheless is the Moondrop Aria a sonic delight that works well with a phone but also does justice to more expensive days/amps.

Don’t tell us it’s got a long trunk, fat legs, and rough brown skin. Tell us instead it’s an elephant!” – RON FROM MEXICO CITY

Sure, the the Moondrop Aria broadly follows the Starfield in its tuning. Apart from some tiny differences at the low end and a slightly reduced upper midrange, the Moondrop Aria features the aforementioned prominent driver resonance peak at 10 kHz, which is clearly audible. But quantities tell us only half the story…let’s focus on the sonic qualities.

Frequency Response Diagrams of Moondrop Aria and Moondrop Starfield

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Whereas many claim there is not much of a difference between Starfield and Aria, the devil is in the small details…which ad up to a snowball effect, at least to my ears. According to the manufacturer, the Moondrop Aria, with its new liquid crystal polymer (“LCP”) diaphragm promises to deliver “excellent transient response and high resolution sound details”, and this is actually true in my opinion. So, what you expect is that the LCP diaphragm should have a better distortion characteristic for low frequencies.

And yes, that’s what I hear. The bass is articulate and well textured, no hint of fuzz or boom, fast bass sections do not get smeared. The well extended low end is well controlled and composed, it fits in like a brick in the wall. One could compare it to a tight sportscar suspension. It was its bass boom the Starfield had been criticized for.

The bottom shelf has consequences for the transition to the lower midrange, the Achilles heel of previous models. It is seamless. In some previous Moondrop DDs, a soft, voluptuous bass led into a lean, neutral vocals department, which did not harmonize at all. In the Aria, bass and vocals are from the same mold. And while the midrange remains neutral and well sculptured in the Moondrop Aria, the less distorting/less smearing bass brings it out better and this also results in midrange clarity and transparency. The upper midrange was kept pretty much the same as in the Starfield – which avoids shoutiness – but only by a hair.

Another difference to previous <$200 Moondrop single DDs is a better treble extension, which also introduces a driver-diaphragm resonance peak at around 10 kHz. This adds some crispness to the overall presentation, but also some hardness at higher volumes. But since it contributes to midrange clarity also, moderate volumes benefit from this resonance.

Adding all this up not only translates to a very articulate, accurate presentation, it also contributes to a reasonably wide (but not the most expansive) and tall soundstage, with a good depth, great spatial cues, as well as a really good definition, separation, and, most of all, to an outstanding note definition and cohesion across the frequency spectrum. Very good technicalities. All this makes for a great listen independent of the Moondrop Aria’s modest price.

Moondrop Aria Compared

Back to the Starfield. Its slower low end and its reduced treble extension makes the whole sonic perception less crisp and cohesive. The differences become most obvious when listening to the whole frequency spectrum in context. It is the cohesion and the faster transients that make the Aria most appealing to my ears. The elephant, you remember…

Compared to the SSP/SSR, the Moondrop Aria is much less spicy and grainy, notes are better defined, and the ceiling on the stage is higher. The Aria sounds simply more homogenous, and is technically better, but you see/hear the handwriting from the SSP/SSR.

Frequency Response Diagrams of Moondrop Aria and Moondrop SSP

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Another recent find is the Whizzer Kylin HE01. It is by no means worse than the Moondrop Aria, just different. And quite a bit.

Frequency Response Diagrams of Moondrop Aria and Whizzer Kylin HE01

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Apart from it retro appearance and its resin build, the Whizzer is easier to drive and more on the fun side. It is exuberant, forward, with more and slightly looser bass, and very intimate vocals.  Moondrop Aria is more disciplined, controlled and composed, and more technical. 

If the Whizzer was the guy in the jeans outfit with a Volkswagen cabriolet on the beach, the Moondrop Aria is the chap in a suit with a mid-sized BMW in front of the opera house. I’d say the Whizzer works better with cheap electronics and you tickle out more of the Aria with a good dac-amp.

YouTube Video

Concluding Remarks

What makes Moondrop distinct from many of their competitors is that they invest in real R&D, that they continuously evolve their technologies, and that they always have some good ideas. And this progressive development shows.

The Moondrop Aria is a winner. It may look inconspicuous and generic on a first glance, but wait until you put them into your ears and switch the music on. Actually, only until you hold them in your hands…It is another step up in Moondrop’s single DD offerings below $200, and that at a lower price. I prefer it over the Starfield based on its cohesion and faster transients. And it likely even puts Moondrop’s KXXS to shame. What else do we want?

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

The Moondrop Aria was supplied from Moondrop in Chengdu (but dispatched from Shenzenaudio), and I thank them for that.

Get the Moondrop Aria from the Moondrop Store

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You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

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Cons — Effect depending on individual system setup: requires trial and error; additional USB line-cleaning may be needed to show positive effects; inconsistently priced (cost prohibitive in Canada); fixed cable; no on-off switch.

Executive Summary

The $49 iPower and the $99 iPower X are low-noise switching mode power (SMPS) supplies that filter out electromagnetic and radio-frequency noise which deteriorate sound quality. In my rigorous tests, the ifi Power X delivered better sonic results than the iPower, which was approximately on par with my budget linear power supply; and all of them were far superior over two generic power supplies.

Introduction

You are in for an interesting read. When I signed up for this experiment, that is testing these “audiophile” power supplies against snake oil claims by others, I didn’t know what I was getting into. At the time, I was not considering that the audio signal can be deteriorated by SEVERAL noise sources, including power supply and computer USB. I had to isolate the effect of the power supply. Improving the digital-audio signal through the power supply alone is insufficient.

Before offering fixes, we will have to talk about the noise sources individually.

Kinds Of Power Supplies

A power supply is a transformer that connects the AC grid with the low voltage circuit of a device, let’s say a dac or an amp. The electricity coming out of your mains contains electromagnetic interference (RMI) and radio-frequency (RFI) interference, the amount of which depends on where you live. It will be worse in a city apartment building than in a house in the country.

There are two kinds of power supplies, switching more power supplies (SMPS) and linear power supplies (LPS). Both kinds principally work with your audio device.

The power supplies that come with your phone or notebook computer are SMPS. These are generally cheaper and (be it directly or indirectly) “noisier” than LPS in that they switch on and off very fast, which causes serious noise in the audio band – unless sophisticated filtering is used. Basic SPS will deteriorate the audio signal.

An LPS is typically less noisy as it provides constant signal and voltage power. However, bigger transformers are better than smaller ones (although they may measure the same), and they can be very expensive (and bulky). Such big LPS are probably only economic for very expensive gear.

That said, not all LPS are better than an SMPS. A “Maserati” SPS will be performing better than a “Fiat” LPS. ifi Audio claims to have produced “low noise” SMPS in their $49 iPower and their even “quieter” $99 iPower X. Although these devices appear expensive, their pricing is small compared to a big LPS, and they are a relatively cheap solution for power-line noise. Sonic improvements depend on the connected audio device. It appears that quality improvements are also correlated with price. And you can spend $$$$ on a good LPS.

USB Noise Explained

Let’s assume for a moment, your dac is powered by your computer’s USB port. The computer delivers “noisy power” and a poorly timed data stream (“jitter”; a dac wants well-timed data stream) caused by EMI and RFI through its VBUS and data line, respectively. A computer’s power supply is not designed with noise reduction in mind and the various computer internals are noisy, for example a hard drive (SSD is quieter).

Both jitter and noisy power contribute to the deterioration of the audio signal. And if both are transferred into the dac via an inferior USB cable, there is additional interference between power and data lines…which exacerbates the problem. That’s why you need a well-made, well-shielded, well-isolating USB cable, too.

A dongle dac-amp is exposed to all these noises whereas most designated dacs have the option of a separate power supply. Separating power and data lines improve dac behaviour and there is no need to clean the computer’s VBUS noise.

In any case should be dac’s power cable be as far away from interconnects as possible. Because of its relative high voltage, it creates a stray electromagnetic field that is picked up by the lower-voltage interconnects and audio cables, which can also effect sound adversely.

The data line can be cleaned by using an asynchronous audio transport: the data packets from the computer are timed/clocked in the dac. As a rule of thumb, the more powerful a computer is (that is the more internal components is has) the more noise it will make. Simpler computers will be quieter. On the other hand, if you already have a clean LPS, you only have to clean the USB data line. For this purpose, I have the Audioquest Jitterbug. Co-blogger Alberto Pittaluga uses the ifi Audio nano iUSB 3.0 and reports good success.

In the end, the amount to noise and therefore the amount of required cleaning depends on the device. Some may not need much cleaning at all.

What Improvements Are Expected?

As a rule of thumb – call it a hypothesis for us to test: a headphone amplifier is more affected by the power supply (some claim 70% of sound quality depends on it) and a dac more by the data-line quality. Consequently, an amp benefits from a good PS whereas a dac benefits more from a clean USB source (but clean power is also important for proper clock detection). The effects of a high-quality power supply can be “overwritten” by a dac’s distortion (poor dejittering/resyncing/rebalancing).

This is a bit unfortunate for my testing as the borrowed iPower/iPower X supplies are laid out for 5 V and therefore for my dacs (integrated dac-amps), whereas my dedicated headphone amps need 12V.

Testimonies of the benefits of power supplies range from a “cleaner signal, better details, better transients” to improved stereo image and bass, better vocals quality” on the blogosphere. Co-blogger Biodegraded, reports better textured and more extended bass and a quieter background throughout in his headphone amp. Co-blogger KopiOkaya owns and tested several LPS and also reports differences in dynamics. Some cheap PS sound “uninspired”. Co-Blogger Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir tested the ifi Audio Zen can and had to purchase an iPower X to get the sonic results he expected from it.

The credibility of real listening experience [I believe my co-bloggers] is unfortunately contaminated by “expectation bias” and the usual bla bla by some YouTube “reviewers”, as well as by some “objectivists” who dismiss such devices on the grounds of measurements that are unrelated to sonic performance. Some people even report sound deterioration using clean-power supplies. Others describe dc leakage contamination when the iPower X shares mains with other devices – or perceive the sound change, but not necessarily to the better.

In summary, you really need to have patience and apply trial and error. If you are a black-and-white kind of person, dabbling in power supplies and usb cleaners is not for you.

Physicalities Of The ifi Audio Power Supplies

Both supplies are wall warts, the iPower more so an ordinary looking one than the fancier, illuminated iPower X. The Power X comes with all possible accessories (including worldwide adapters), as you see on the photo, whereas you have to purchase some of these for the iPower X. In both cases, the connecting cable is fixed to the body – and cannot be replaced.

What ifi Audio Claims

ifi Audio give little details on the technology of their two power supplies. It is claimed that the iPower X cancels all EMI and FMI coming in from the mains. Mid- to low-frequency noise is removed in the fashion of a noise cancelling headphone: it is countered with out-of-phase electrical noise so that both cancel each other out. High frequency noise is removed with passive filters.

The iPower is considered to be 20 times quieter than audiophile linear power supplies.

You may want to visit the respective product pages for further information:

Test Setup

In order to test the iPower and iPower X supplies effectively, the power supply noise has to be isolated from other noise sources. For this purpose a music source without significant or no USB noise is used. This can be a CD player (through the S/PDIF output), and to a lesser extent, my computer with a rudimentary USB data-line cleaner. My test setup was:

• Different 5V power supplies: iPower, iPower X, BRZHifi LPS, Apple 12V SMPS (from 2012 iPad), generic Baseus charger SMPS, Tzumi power bank (battery)
• Source NAD CD player with S/PDF connection
• Integrated dac/amp 1: Kadhas Tone2 Pro [S/PDIF input used]
• Receiving end: Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk:crinacle and Anew X One

This setup delivered uncompressed CD data and, obviously, zero USB noise.

Test Results

To take it away, the iPower X delivered the best results by far. Differences to the other power supplies were not only just audible or nuances, no the iPower X was way ahead of the pack.

I started with the Apple SMPS, a 12 V charger for my 2012 iPad. Apple power supplies have a very good reputation, but they do not regulate mains noise, but, to my knowledge there’s some filter inside – Apple are tight lipped about the details. After all, it is designed to charge and power gear. In terms of sound, there was lots of harshness and lack of coordination in the Moondrop. Spatial organization was all over the place. It sounded unruly and edgy and the sound did not do justice to the Khadas T2P and Crinacle’s impeccable tuning of the Moondrop.

The iPower X, in comparison, provided a true eye/ear-opening experience…and the difference to the Apple PS was BIIIIIG. The sonic image was much more organized, more balanced, not sharp anymore. The corners were rounded, the sound was smoother, more relaxed, more contained and rather homogenous. Bass kick was better, too, and so was spatial cues. Holistically speaking, the listening experience was much nicer and rounder sounding. Much nicer…

I then tested the BRZHiFi, a $40 LPS I had bought from China. The edges were not as round anymore as with the iPower X and homogeneity was not quite as good. But the listening experience was still decent and more than acceptable. And it beat the Apple SPS.

Moving to the regular iPower, there was not much difference to the BRZHifi, but it was not even close to the iPower X in terms of control and organization. Well, half price…iPower is a compromise.

I then connected a generic $14 Baseus “Frankenstein” charger, and it did full justice to this attribute. The sound was thin, dark, dull, and lifeless. Can’t help it. No filtering…you pay the price for not paying the price.

Last but not least, I ran the Khadas on the Tzumi 10,000 mAh powerbank – and it sounded quite good. I’d put it quality wise on one level with the iPower and BRZHifi. So, if you are on a budget, use your powerbank. It supplies constant linear power and does not suffer from RMI/RFI. Try it!

In summary, the iPower X helped generate the best sound by far in this test.

But…No Audible Difference Found With A Computer…

In my recent analysis of the Khadas Tone2 Pro, I used my MacBook Air as music source (instead of the CD player). I reported no sonic differences between the Apple and the two ifi power supplies, and the computer’s USB power source. Why? Well the simplest explanation is that the computer’s USB data noise was masking the benefits of the power supplies.

Generally, there are a plethora of reasons why one may not hear a difference with the iPower and iPower X supplies, principally because other sources cause even bigger pollution.

• The improvement of the PS of the low- noise power is masked by poor data quality (jitter)
• The equipment is not of the highest quality
• The test setup was not optimal (use sensible iems and high-quality headphones)

In this case, the whole setup needs improving.

Value

A contentious topic. In our internal blog discussion round, some found the ifi Power X totally overpriced, whereas others pointed to the fact that a decent LPS can offset you by hundreds of dollars. So the iPower X is probably worth its $99. The $49 iPower is a bit of a half-baked compromise with the advantage that it comes with all thinkable accessories, and it compares price wise with my cheap LPS.

I would generally assign a better value to the iPower X but also note the difference in pricing between US and Canada (way more expensive north of 64), which makes it cost prohibitive for me. ifi Audio should reconsider their local pricing variations, especially when it comes for free with the $229 drop.com version of their Zen Can.

Am I A Snake-Oil Merchant?

Going into this test, I was very skeptical of the sonic benefits of “audiophile” power supplies, galvanic isolators, line cleaners etc. After all, the Audio Science Forum keeps telling us that there cannot be any improvements because they would crystallize out in their measurements. This is a reverse argument and there is no reason whatsoever refusing to listen to the gear that’s right there on the measurement rig – and without expectation bias.

The question is whether these measurements are capable of characterizing perceived sound. As far as I know, there is no physical relationship (“formula”) between them. “Objectivists” equate quantity with quality, and not only that: their quantity of one thing (“some measurement”) is directly correlated with the quality of another (“sound”). So, in order to match them up, religious beliefs are required. Beliefs are handy as they don’t have to be proven. And that’s what objectivists refer to as science.

As to selling you snake oil, I only borrowed these two ifi power supplies – and would be extremely happy, if my own BRZHiFi LPS was better. It is not, unfortunately.

One point of this exercise is that my results are not 1:1 transferable to you as they apply only to my testing parameters. But you get the message. You have to find sonic progress by trial and error when dealing with so many unknowns simultaneously. And if you are not prepared to do so, then better leave your fingers of it.

Concluding Remarks

“Audiophile” power supplies such as the iPower and iPower X are no snake oil, although results vary with setup. I experienced major sonic improvements in my testing, particularly with the iPower X, against unfiltered power from generic supplies. This, unfortunately, opens a can of worms, as I would like to now tackle USB data-line noise with devices such as the iUSB 3.0, which can be expensive. I put a lot of effort into this exercise and learnt a lot by doing.

If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can’t be done – PETER USTINOV

The stubborn claims of self-acclaimed “objectivists” that there cannot be a sonic difference because the measurements do not indicate it, make as much sense as dismissing the necessity of elections on the grounds that we already have democracy.

In the end, you have to trust your ears.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

Disclaimer

The two power supplies were loaned to me for 60 days by ifi Audio upon my request. I thank them for that. I also thank my co-bloggers for intense discussion of this topic.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

The post ifi Audio iPower & iPower X Review – Noise Annoys appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — “Hot” upper midrange; repetitive design.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The KZ EDX is another V-shaped single dynamic-driver earphone that impresses by its speed, imaging and staging, but offer the classic Chi-Fi (marginally) hot upper midrange that may be fatiguing for some.

INTRODUCTION

The KZ EDX is the company’s latest offering at their very low end. In 2014, KZ started with $5 single dynamic-driver earphones of remarkable quality…such as the EDR1 and EDR2, later the ATE and ATR….just to name a few. With the start of the “driver war” in early 2017, KZ neglected the single-dynamic driver altogether and focused on more and more drivers stuffed into their earpieces. What this and other Chi-Fi companies had not taken into consideration was the customers’ re-surfacing longing to the more organic coherent sound of a dynamic driver earphone. While the competition such as Moondrop and Tanchjim also developed premium single DDs. KZ has yet to deliver such a design. Instead, they put their single DD offerings always at the bottom of their selection. But although the KZ EDX is cheap, it is nevertheless quite good, actually surprisingly good…and surprisingly useful.

SPECIFICATIONS

Driver: Φ10mm composite magnetic dynamic
Impedance: 23 Ω
Sensitivity: 112 dB/mW
Frequency Range: 20 – 20,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: 2 pin 0.75 mm
Tested at: $7
Purchase Link: OPA Audio Store

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

“Unboxing” a KZ model is a repetitive procedure: earpieces, cable, eartips, paperwork. The earpieces follow a standard design without fancy faceplates. Basic but sturdy build. Tips are KZ’s standard “Starline” model, and the tightly braided cable is ok. I find it haptically more appealing than the cables in Blon’s and KBEAR’s $50 segment. Everything works out of the box.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

My tonal preference and testing practice

My test tracks explained

Equipment used: iPhone SE (1st generation 2016); stock cable and eartips.

To my big surprise, the KZ EDX earphone does not sound cheap at all. Sure, it offers the classic KZ V-shape but the dynamic driver is fast and this is reflected throughout the frequency range. Imaging and staging are more than acceptable.

First, the bass is really good: tight, fast, not too punchy but just of the right magnitude. Not thumpy or boomy. Extension into the sub-bass is decent. the low end harmonizes well with the somewhat recessed lower midrange but keeps largely out of it. Vocals are well sculptured, but a bit pointy with excess energy from the upper midrange….and, most importantly, they sound natural. Midrange has a lean (but not too lean) note weight and good clarity and transparency.

A “pinna gain” of 15 dB into the upper midrange is not quite modest even for a KZ earphone. Sure, it can make the vocals a bit nasal and overly lean in some tracks through that added energy, but not overly so. It adds life to the sound but can be piercing for sensitive ears. I am sensitive to 2-4 kHz elevations and the EDX’s is borderline to my ears.

Treble is all over the place with the upper treble dominating the lower one. This results in some tizziness in otherwise recessed cymbals, for example, and in some added perceived midrange clarity and resolution (that may not exit in reality).

Another surprise is the soundstage: quite wide and tall with depth lagging a bit. Impressive. There is nothing in the tonality that squeezes it. The fast driver makes for decent separation, layering, and resolution.

KZ EDX COMPARED

There is not much to compare the KZ EDX to at $10. And you will likely will not find anything better in that ballpark either. Next up are the $20-30 1DD +1 BA models of various companies that may be technically more filigree but lack the EDX’s organic sound.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Please hit me with a stick but I prefer the KZ EDX at $10 over the $100 KZ ASX. Good sound, good value. And not only that: I also like using it. I just may stick a bit of micropore tape over the nozzle screen. But that’s ok at this price. KZ, why don’t you produce an upscale single DD model for us instead of barraging us with driver numbers. And it you had decreased that pinna gain in the KZ EDX, you would have earned your first star with me.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

The KZ EDX were provided unsolicited from OPA Audio store and I thank them for that.

Get it from the OPA Audio Store

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

RELATED…

The post KZ EDX Review – Back To The Roots appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — Apparently same earphone as KZ ZSN Pro; boosted upper frequencies not for everybody; old, generic design.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The KZ ZSN Pro X earphone follows a long lineage of the company’s budget models with its V-shaped mainstream sound and stellar build that has experienced subtle refinement over time. The tuning is still somewhat tainted by the company’s signature boosted upper end that can generate fatigue in some listeners. Caution: may be essentially the same as the KZ ZSN Pro earphone.

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge Zenith is a Chinese company that has provided us with budget earphones since 2014. Their early $5-10 single DDs are legendary (here a comprehensive summary by the Contraptionist). Since 2017, they have also brought us cheap multi-driver hybrids with up to 10 drivers per side. The price of balanced armature drivers had dropped dramatically to make this happen. The company will issue their 50th model anytime soon.

I purchased about 20 models between 2017 and early 2018, but gave up as they always could be described as follows: “extremely V-shaped with thin and sharp vocals buried between variably boomy bass and a hot upper midrange. Great value but not usable for me in the long run”.

I felt the company should focus on decent tonalities and not be involved in a driver war. As it has turned out over the last three years, the number of drivers and sound quality are not strictly correlated. The BAs do not generate the natural timbre of the old DDs. Recently, the DDs saw a revival in Chi-Fi (Tanchjim, Moondrop…) with brandnames such as Sennheiser still sticking entirely to this technology.

After an almost 3-year hiatus I was talked into doing one for the team by reviewing the KZ ZSN Pro X. After all, the predecessor KZ ZSN Pro had seen one of the largest number of visitors of our blog.

SPECIFICATIONS

Drivers: 10 mm DD + 30095 BA
Impedance: 25 Ω
Sensitivity: 112 dB/mW
Frequency Range: 7 – 40,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: 2-pin 75 mm
Tested at: $20
Product Page: NA
Purchase Link: KeepHifi

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

Nothing new here: earpieces, “Starline” eartips, cable, paperwork. Seen many times before. The earpieces follow a proven standard design, they fit well, isolation and comfort are good. Build is also as good as you can expect, the zinc-alloy faceplates look and feel valid. I went for the golden faceplates…nice bling bling.

The eartips work – and have always worked for me. The cable shows zero noise transfer but tangles easily. A low impedance of 25 Ω together with their high sensitivity of 112 dB make the KZ ZSN Pro X harmonize well with any phone. No external amplification needed. I used the KZ ZSN Pro X with my iPhone SE (first generation) and my MacBook Air.

After having owned over 20 KZ models, I have to make them one compliment: their build and their quality control are stellar: I have never had a bad apple, that is channel imbalances etc.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

My tonal preference and testing practice explained

My test tracks explained

Looking at the graph, not much appears to have changed in the last 3 years. The low end is still elevated with a prominent mid-bass hump – and the upper midrange has two broad peaks at 2.5 and about 4.5 kHz up to 13 dB above the trough at 1 kHz. And there is another rather unexpected peak at around 10 kHz.

When it comes to listening, I record an overall sonic refinement however no improvement in the tuning following my 3-year hiatus from KZ. The KZ ZSN Pro X offer a crisp, punchy, and well extended low-end which I find inviting. Gone are the days of strong mid-bass boom…ok, it is still a bit too punchy for some, but overall not bad. The two drivers are fast and the tuning is mainstream V-shape.

But what has not changed is the overshadowing of the the overall sonic impression by the overly boosted upper midrange and that mid-treble peak. These add too much energy (through overtones) to the voices stuck around that 1 kHz trough – which makes them crisp and clear but also somewhat sharp and aggressive, while still being recessed.

The degree of which this happens has been reduced in the last 3 years, not so much by the tuning but by driver quality. The positive effect of this extra energy is the addition of clarity and transparency to the midrange that is only partially real. A nice sonic deception that makes the earphone sound more expensive. The treble comes with some sibilance and splashy cymbals. But the overall tonality is not as fatiguing to my ears as in previous KZ budget models.

Timbre is surprisingly good and a far cry from the plasticky KZ sound a few years back. Soundstage is actually quite impressive. It is wider than deep but deep enough – the speedy bass does not congest the mids and adds to the midrange transparency and a good spatial cues. The other technicalities are also more than acceptable for the price.

WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

Flatten the curve! But for this sound signature you have the alternative choice of the TRN-STM: same shell design, similar price. In this case, the graphs tell us more than words.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

After my 3-year hiatus from KZ products, I certainly record a refinement in their sonic quality – whereas the build has remained as impeccable as before. But I still think the company needs to cater more to the western taste and adapt their tuning by removing energy from the upper midrange – many ears still find the sound aggressive.

If you already have two handfuls of KZ earphones, there is no need to line up for this one, especially as there are allegedly little (if no) sonic differences between the KZ ZSN Pro X and the previous KZ ZSN Pro model. But for noobs, the KZ ZSN Pro X may be a good introduction to the brand’s offerings.

In summary, these are decent earphones. In the past, the many KZ earphones have ended up in the drawers of their owners (including mine, until they were shipped to charities) when the next models was ordered a few weeks later. Maybe the time has come to consider the current models as keepers and actually use them.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.

DISCLAIMER

The KZ ZSN Pro X were provided unsolicited by KeepHifi and I thank them for that.

Get the KZ ZSN Pro X from KeepHifi

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

The post KZ ZSN Pro X Review – Fool’s Gold? appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Pros — Excellent sound quality; versatile; low power consumption; value.

Cons — Flimsy construction; limited power.

Summary

The Apple audio adapter delivers superb audio quality at a very low price. The lightning version works with the iPhone, and the USB-C version improves the sound quality of computers and lower-end Android phones.

Specifications (lightning, USB-C versions)

Not released by Apple.

Introduction

First was the iPod. “3000 songs in your pocket” did Apple CEO Steve Jobs announce in 2001. Then there was the iPhone which made the ipod somewhat obsolete.

The early iPhones featured stellar internal audio components that produced great music playback. I have an old iPhone 5S that was analyzed by tech writer Ken Rockwell [here]. He summarizes: “…As expected, the analog audio output of the iPhone 5S is extraordinarily good…The only reason to get an outboard headphone amplifier for use with the iPhone 5S is if you have high-impedance (100Ω or greater) headphones which may require more voltage output than the 1V RMS from iOS devices. In this case, you still don’t need a DAC; the analog output from the iPhone will probably be better than that from an outboard DAC…”

From the iPhone 7, the 3.5 mm audio jack and therefore the internal amp/dac disappared from the logic board so that the listener had to rely on the external $10 Apple “lighting to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter” – which features the whole works: a microscopic stereo digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a stereo headphone amplifier, a microphone preamplifier, and monophonic analog-to-digital converter (ADC) – and power converters to run this all.

The problem with the amplification of any phone is that it does not drive big high-impedance headphones very well. For this purpose, I had purchased the $99 Audioquest Dragonfly about 5 years ago, which has a higher output volume than the Apple audio adapter.

Functionality: what Devices does the Apple Audio Adapter work with?

• iPhones (lightning version)
• Android phones (USB-C version; works only with certain music players)
• Computers (natively with USB-C or with regular USB via an adapter; works with Mac sound cards; I don’t know how it works with Windows)

What the Others say

The people of ifixit.com investigated the Apple audio adapter [here] and reported a German magazine’s test that concluded that the adapter delivers slightly less output power than the original amp/dac on the logic board. I tested this too with a Dayton microphone and can confirm this. The differences are however minimal.

Ken Rockwell writes on the lightning version [here]: “…This tiny Apple device has better performance and more and cleaner output than many fancier audiophile devices I have tested. Apple has more resources to make better stuff than the smaller companies. Most 3rd-party headphone amps and DACs, all be they bigger and far more expensive, put out less clean power into 32Ω loads, and do it with more distortion, poorer sound and lousier frequency response...”

Audio Science Reviews measured and reviewed the USB-C version [here]. According to them, the Apple adapter beats the Google Pixel V1 and V2 dongles as well as the thumb-drive-sized $99 Audirect Beam. They measured the Apple’s output impedance at 0.9 ohm (compared to the 7.6 ohm of the Google Pixel V2 dongle).

The Headphone Collector also analyzed the USB-C version [here]. He writes: “…Neutral, clear, clean and very precise. Basically as audibly transparent, good-sounding and clean-sounding to my ears as it gets. Precise and tight bass reproduction with sensitive multi-BA in-ears.
…
Seriously, there’s absolutely no subjective sonic fault that I could find, regardless of price. In other words, excellent transparent performance regardless of price. There is absolutely no reason at all to pay more for a USB DAC, at least purely based on sound quality with headphones.“

What I say

I purchased both versions, the USB-C and Lightning ones. The USB-C works well with my old MacBook Air via a USB to USB-C adapter ($1 ordered from China).

A few years ago, I got sucked in by the reviews of the Audioquest Dragonfly Black (which also has a low output impedance of <1 ohm). Not that it is a bad product, it is well worth its money and serves the purpose of running higher-impedance headphones. And it does it well. But I got fooled to believe that it improves the sound of the more sensitive iems – it does not.

Anything the Apple adapter drives sounds excellent be it phone or computer. The Audioquest Dragonfly actually adds bass and therefore colour (“warmth”) whereas the Apple is more neutral. I have yet to find a dongle that equals or surpasses the Apple audio adapter in terms of dynamics, clarity, cleanliness, and imaging.

The key asset of Apple’s internal dac/amp combination was a very low output impedance of about 1 ohm. As a rule of thumb, we want a low output impedance for any music player (<3 ohm) for optimal earphone/earphone pairing. The theory behind this requires some reading, you find the most important links appended below.

The Apple adapter not only has an output impedance of <1 ohm, it also has by far the lowest power consumption of all the dongles I have tested. The Audioquest Dragonfly Black, which is also one of the lower draining ones, consumes about three times as much battery at the same listening volume.

Concluding Remarks

These audio adapters show the quality of engineering in a company like Apple. They got it all right: super sound and low power consumption. Save your money and upgrade your old Android phone with the USB-C Apple adapter: it does both, decoding the digital signal and amplifying the resulting analogue signal, and it does it so well that you don’t have to worry about it anymore.

Some iPhone users used to have the adapter supplied in the box and do not have to do anything. Computer users just need an additional $1 USB-A to USB-C adapter to bypass their integrated audio. Not sure why Apple offers the adapters for a mere $10, considering that everything else they sell is vastly overpriced.

For all higher-impedance headphones, there is a huge selection of dongles and dac/amps, some I which we present here.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

I bought these adapters myself from Apple Canada.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

RELATED…

Apple Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter Teardown by ifixit.com

Inside Apple’s Audio Adapter by fixit.com

Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters by Audio Science Review

Apple Lightning Adapter Audio Quality by Ken Rockwell

Apple USB-C to Headphone Jack Adapter by the Headphone Collector

iPhone 5S Audio Quality by Ken Rockwell

Impedance demystified by Headphonesty

Headphone & amp impedance

Innerfidelity on output impedance

Innerfidelity case study on output impedance

The post Apple Audio Adapter Review – The One To Beat appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Pros — Ausgezeichnete Klangqualität; vielseitig; geringer Stromverbrauch; preiswert.

Cons — Nicht sonderlich robuste Konstruktion; begrenzte Power.

Zusammenfassung

Der Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter bietet eine hervorragende Audioqualität zu einem sehr niedrigen Preis von 10 €. Die Lightning-Version funktioniert mit iOS Geräten, und die USB-C-Version verbessert die Klangqualität von Computern und Android Geräten.

Spezifikationen de Apple Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapters (Lightning- und USB-C-Versionen)

Nicht von Apple freigegeben.

Einführung

Zuerst war der iPod. “3000 Songs in der Tasche”, verkündete Apple-CEO Steve Jobs im Jahr 2001. Dann kam das iPhone, das den iPod gewissermaßen überflüssig machte.

Die frühen iPhones verfügten über hervorragende interne Audiokomponenten, die eine großartige Musikwiedergabe ermöglichten. Ich habe ein altes iPhone 5S, das von dem Tech-Autor Ken Rockwell analysiert wurde [hier].

Er fasst zusammen: “…Wie erwartet ist die analoge Audioausgabe des iPhone 5S außerordentlich gut…Der einzige Grund, sich einen externen Kopfhörerverstärker für die Verwendung mit dem iPhone 5S zuzulegen, ist, wenn Sie Kopfhörer mit hoher Impedanz (100Ω oder mehr) haben, die möglicherweise mehr Ausgangsspannung als die 1V RMS von iOS-Geräten benötigen.

In diesem Fall brauchen Sie immer noch keinen DAC; die analoge Ausgabe vom iPhone wird wahrscheinlich besser sein als die von einem externen DAC…”

Ab dem iPhone 7 ist die 3,5-mm-Audiobuchse und damit auch der interne Verstärker/Digitalwandler von der Platine verschwunden, so dass der Hörer auf den externen Kopfhöreranschluss angewiesen ist, der alles enthält: einen mikroskopisch kleinen Stereo-Digital-Analog-Wandler (DAC), einen Stereo-Kopfhörerverstärker, einen Mikrofonvorverstärker und einen monophonen Analog-Digital-Wandler (ADC) – und Leistungswandler, um all das zu betreiben.

Das Problem mit der Verstärkung eines iPhones ist, dass es große hochohmige Kopfhörer nicht sehr gut ansteuern kann. Zu diesem Zweck hatte ich vor etwa 5 Jahren den $99 teuren Audioquest Dragonfly Black gekauft, der eine höhere Ausgangslautstärke hat als der Apple Kopfhöreranschluss hat.

Funktion: Mit welchen Geräten funktioniert der Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter?

• iPhone, iPad (Lightning Version)
• Android Geräte (USB-C Version)
• Computer (nativ mit USB-C oder mit normalem USB über einen Adapter; funktioniert mit Mac-Soundkarten; ich weiß nicht, wie es mit Windows funktioniert)

Was die anderen sagen

Die Leute von ifixit.com haben den Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter untersucht [hier] und berichteten über den Test eines deutschen Magazins, der zu dem Schluss kam, dass der Adapter etwas weniger Ausgangsleistung liefert als der Original-Verstärker/DAC auf dem Logic Board. Ich habe dies ebenfalls mit einem Dayton-Mikrofon getestet und kann dies bestätigen. Die Unterschiede sind jedoch minimal.

Ken Rockwell schreibt über die Lightning-Version [hier]: “…Dieses winzige Apple-Gerät hat eine bessere Leistung und eine bessere und sauberere Ausgabe als viele ausgefallenere audiophile Geräte, die ich getestet habe. Apple hat mehr Ressourcen, um bessere Geräte herzustellen als die kleineren Firmen. Die meisten Kopfhörerverstärker und DACs von Drittanbietern, seien sie auch noch so groß und viel teurer, geben weniger saubere Leistung an 32-Ω-Lasten ab, und das mit mehr Verzerrungen, schlechterem Klang und schlechterem Frequenzgang…”

Audio Science Reviews hat die USB-C-Version gemessen und getestet [hier]. Demnach schlägt der Apple-Adapter die Google-Pixel-V1- und -V2-Dongles sowie den $99 teuren Audirect Beam. Sie haben die Ausgangsimpedanz des Apple-Adapters mit 0,9 Ohm gemessen (im Vergleich zu den 7,6 Ohm des Google Pixel V2-Dongles).

The Headphone Collector analysierte auch die USB-C-Version [hier]. Er schreibt: “…Neutral, klar, sauber und sehr präzise. Im Grunde so hörbar transparent, gut klingend und sauber klingend in meinen Ohren, wie es nur geht. Präzise und straffe Basswiedergabe mit empfindlichen Multi-BA-In-Ears.
…
Im Ernst, es gibt absolut keinen subjektiven klanglichen Fehler, den ich finden könnte, unabhängig vom Preis. Mit anderen Worten: hervorragende, transparente Leistung, unabhängig vom Preis. Es gibt absolut keinen Grund, mehr für einen USB-DAC zu bezahlen, zumindest nicht rein aufgrund der Klangqualität mit Kopfhörern.”

Meine Meinung

Ich kaufte beide Adapter Versionen, USB-C und Lightning. Die USB-C funktioniert gut mit meinem alten MacBook Air über einen USB-auf-USB-C-Adapter (für 1 € aus China bestellt).

Vor ein paar Jahren wurde ich von den Bewertungen der Audioquest Dragonfly Black (der auch eine niedrige Ausgangsimpedanz von <1 Ohm hat) . Nicht, dass es ein schlechtes Produkt wäre, es ist sein Geld wert und erfüllt den Zweck, Kopfhörer mit höherer Impedanz zu betreiben. Und das macht er gut. Aber mir wurde vorgegaukelt, dass er den Klang der empfindlicheren Kopfhörer verbessert – das tut er nicht.

Alles, was der Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter antreibt, klingt hervorragend, egal ob Handy/Tablet oder Computer. Der Audioquest Dragonfly Black fügt tatsächlich Bass und damit Farbe (“Wärme”) hinzu, während der Apple eher neutral ist. Ich habe noch keinen Dongle gefunden, der dem Apple Kopfhöreranschluss in Bezug auf Dynamik, Klarheit, Sauberkeit und Abbildung gleichkommt oder ihn übertrifft (unterhalb 100 €).

Der Hauptvorteil der internen DAC/Verstärker-Kombination von Apple war eine sehr niedrige Ausgangsimpedanz von etwa 1 Ohm. Als Faustregel gilt, dass eine niedrige Ausgangsimpedanz für jeden Musikplayer (<3 Ohm) für eine optimale Kopfhörer-Kopfhörer-Kopplung wichtig ist. Die Theorie dahinter erfordert einige Lektüre, die wichtigsten Links finden Sie unten angehängt.

Der Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter hat nicht nur eine Ausgangsimpedanz von <1 Ohm, er hat auch den mit Abstand niedrigsten Stromverbrauch aller von mir getesteten Dongles. Der Audioquest Dragonfly Black, der ebenfalls zu den stromsparenden Dongles gehört, verbraucht bei gleicher Hörlautstärke etwa dreimal so viel Akku.

Schlussbemerkungen

Die getesteten Apple Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter zeigen die Qualität der Technik eines Unternehmens wie Apple. Sie haben alles richtig gemacht: super Sound und niedriger Batterieverbrauch (am Quellgerät). Sparen Sie Ihr Geld und rüsten Sie Ihr altes Android Handy mit dem USB-C-Adapter von Apple auf: Er erledigt beides, die Dekodierung des digitalen Signals und die Verstärkung des daraus resultierenden analogen Signals, und zwar so gut, dass Sie sich nicht mehr darum kümmern müssen. 

Die Käufer älterer iPhone haben den Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter bereits in der Verpackung und müssen nichts tun. Computernutzer benötigen lediglich eine USB-C auf USB-A Adapter, um ihr integriertes Audiosystem zu umgehen.

Ich wüsste gerne, warum Apple die Adapter für nur 10 € anbietet, wenn man bedenkt, dass alles andere, was sie verkaufen, weit überteuert ist.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

Ich habe diese Adapter selbst bei Apple Canada gekauft.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

RELATED…

Apple Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter Teardown by ifixit.com

Inside Apple’s Audio Adapter by fixit.com

Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters by Audio Science Review

Apple Lightning Adapter Audio Quality by Ken Rockwell

Apple USB-C to Headphone Jack Adapter by the Headphone Collector

iPhone 5S Audio Quality by Ken Rockwell

Impedance demystified by Headphonesty

Headphone & amp impedance

Innerfidelity on output impedance

Innerfidelity case study on output impedance

The post Apple Lightning / USB-C auf 3.5 mm Kopfhöreranschluss Adapter Test – Schwer Zu Schlagen appeared first on Music For The Masses.

長所 – 優れた音質、汎用性、低消費電力、価値。

短所-薄っぺらい構造、限られたパワー。

概要

Lightning – 3.5 mmヘッドフォンジャックアダプタとUSB-C – 3.5 mmヘッドフォンジャックアダプタのレビューです。優れた音質を低価格で実現するApple製オーディオアダプターです。LightningバージョンはiPhoneに対応し、USB-Cバージョンはパソコンや下位のAndroidスマホの音質を向上させます。

仕様（Lightning、USB-Cバージョン）

Appleからは発売されていません。

はじめに

最初はiPodだった。2001年、アップル社のスティーブ・ジョブズCEOは、「3000曲をポケットに」と発表しました。そして、iPodをやや陳腐化させたのがiPhoneでした。

初期のiPhoneは、素晴らしい音楽再生が可能なオーディオコンポーネントを内蔵していました。私の手元にある古いiPhone 5Sは、テックライターのケン・ロックウェルによって分析されています。彼はこうまとめています。「iPhone 5Sでアウトボードヘッドフォンアンプを使う唯一の理由は、iOSデバイスの1V RMSよりも高い電圧出力を必要とするハイインピーダンス（100Ω以上）のヘッドフォンを持っている場合である。この場合でも、DACは必要ありません。iPhoneからのアナログ出力は、おそらくアウトボードDACからの出力よりも優れているはずです…”

iPhone 7から、3.5mmオーディオジャック、したがって、内部アンプ/ダックがロジックボードから消えたので、リスナーは外付けの10ドルアップル「照明から3.5mmヘッドフォンジャックアダプタ」に頼らなければなりませんでした – これは、微細なステレオデジタル-アナログコンバータ（DAC）、ステレオヘッドフォンアンプ、マイクプリ、モノラルアナログ-デジタルコンバータ（ADC）、およびこれをすべて実行するには電源コンバータの全体の作品を備えています。

どの携帯電話のアンプでも、大きなハイインピーダンスヘッドホンをうまくドライブできないという問題があります。このため、私は5年ほど前に、Appleのオーディオアダプタよりも出力音量が大きい99ドルのAudioquest Dragonflyを購入していた。

機能性：Apple Audio Adapterはどのようなデバイスに対応していますか？

• iPhone (Lightningバージョン)
• Android携帯電話（USB-C版、一部の音楽プレーヤーのみで動作します。）
• コンピューター（USB-Cネイティブ、またはアダプター経由で通常のUSBを使用、Macのサウンドカードで動作、Windowsでの動作は不明）

アザーズの声

ifixit.comの人たちがAppleのオーディオアダプターを調査し、ドイツの雑誌のテストによると、このアダプターはロジックボード上のオリジナルのアンプ/ダックよりもわずかに出力が小さいと結論付けたと報告しています。私もDaytonのマイクでテストし、これを確認することができました。しかし、その差はごくわずかです。

Ken RockwellはLightningバージョンについて書いている[こちら]。「この小さなAppleのデバイスは、私がテストした多くのファンシーなオーディオマニア向けのデバイスよりも優れたパフォーマンスと、より多くの、よりクリーンな出力を備えている。 アップルは、小さな会社よりも良いものを作るためのリソースを持っています。ほとんどのサードパーティのヘッドフォンアンプとDACは、より大きく、はるかに高価であるにもかかわらず、32Ω負荷にあまりクリーンなパワーを出さず、より多くの歪み、より悪い音、より低い周波数応答でそれを行う…” オーディオサイエンスレビューは、USB接続のヘッドフォンアンプとDACを測定しました。

Audio Science ReviewsはUSB-C版を測定しレビューしています。彼らによると、Appleのアダプターは、Google Pixel V1およびV2ドングルや、サムドライブサイズの99ドルのAudirect Beamに勝っているとのことです。彼らはAppleの出力インピーダンスを0.9Ωと測定しました（Google Pixel V2ドングルの7.6Ωと比較して）。

Headphone CollectorはUSB-Cバージョンも分析しています。彼は「…ニュートラルで、クリアで、クリーンで、非常に正確だ」と書いています。基本的に私の耳には、これ以上ないほど透明で、良い音で、クリーンなサウンド。高感度なマルチBAインイヤーで正確かつタイトな低音再生。
…
真面目な話、値段に関係なく、主観的な音の欠点は全く見当たりません。言い換えれば、価格に関係なく、優れた透明な性能です。少なくとも純粋にヘッドホンでの音質だけを考えれば、USB DACに高いお金を払う理由は全くない。”

私の言いたいこと

私は、USB-CとLightningの両方のバージョンを購入しました。USB-Cは、USB-Cアダプタ（中国から取り寄せた1ドル）を介して古いMacBook Airでうまく動作しています。

数年前、Audioquest Dragonfly Black（これも出力インピーダンスが＜1Ωと低い）のレビューに吸い寄せられた。悪い製品というわけではなく、値段に見合ったもので、より高いインピーダンスのヘッドホンを動かすという目的を果たしています。そして、それをうまくこなしているのです。しかし、私はそれがより敏感なアイムの音を向上させると信じて騙された – それはありません。

Appleのアダプタで駆動するものは、それが電話であれコンピュータであれ、素晴らしい音です。Audioquest Dragonflyは、低音が強調され、色彩が豊かになるのですが、Appleはよりニュートラルです。ダイナミクス、透明感、クリーンさ、イメージの面でAppleのオーディオアダプタと同等かそれ以上のドングルを私はまだ見つけていません。

Appleの内蔵ダックとアンプの組み合わせの重要な資産は、約1オームという非常に低い出力インピーダンスでした。経験則上、どの音楽プレーヤーでも、最適なイヤホンとイヤホンのペアリングのために低い出力インピーダンス（<3Ω）が望ましいとされています。この理論を理解するためには、いくつかの文献を読む必要があります。

Appleのアダプタは、出力インピーダンスが1Ω未満であるだけでなく、私がテストしたすべてのドングルの中で消費電力が圧倒的に低いのです。Audioquest Dragonfly Blackも消費電力が低いものの、同じ音量で聴くと約3倍のバッテリーを消費します。

まとめ

これらのオーディオアダプターは、アップルのような会社の技術力の高さを示しています。超高音質と低消費電力を実現したのです。 お金を節約して、古いAndroid携帯をUSB-C Appleアダプターでアップグレードしましょう。デジタル信号のデコードと、その結果のアナログ信号の増幅、その両方を行い、もう心配する必要がないほどうまくいきます。

iPhoneユーザーは、以前は箱の中にアダプターが付属しており、何もする必要がありませんでした。コンピュータのユーザーは、内蔵オーディオをバイパスするために、1ドルのUSB – USB-Cアダプターを追加する必要があるだけです。Appleが販売する他のすべてが膨大な値段であることを考えると、なぜアダプターをたった10ドルで提供するのかはよくわかりません。

次回まで…聴き続けてください!

Contact us!

免責事項

このアダプターは、自分でアップルカナダから購入しました。

RELATED…

Apple Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter Teardown by ifixit.com

Inside Apple’s Audio Adapter by fixit.com

Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters by Audio Science Review

Apple Lightning Adapter Audio Quality by Ken Rockwell

Apple USB-C to Headphone Jack Adapter by the Headphone Collector

iPhone 5S Audio Quality by Ken Rockwell

Impedance demystified by Headphonesty

Headphone & amp impedance

Innerfidelity on output impedance

Innerfidelity case study on output impedance

The post Appleオーディオアダプタ（Lightning版、USB-C版とも）レビュ appeared first on Music For The Masses.