The TRN BAX PRO were provided my review by the manufacturer. I thank them for that and also apologize for the long delay of the publication of this article owing to some lengthy orofacial problems. You can get them from TRN Audio.

Introduction

TRN, or more precisely, Dongguan Zuodu Acoustics Technology Co., Ltd. are a ChiFi player of the first hour, from a time when a budget Chifi model reached easily 40,000 views on Head-Fi in a few weeks. Examples are the TRN V80 and V90.

TRN, like many other relatively inexperienced ChiFi companies (compared to, let’s say, the more established Sennheiser or Audio Technica), overestimated their abilities and prematurely released earphones in the premium segment that may have had the ingredients but the final meal was subpar. For example, the TRN BA8 was a screamer and unable to deliver musical enjoyment to the aided ear. And the original BAX was apparently not much better (I was told).

Time cures wounds and companies mature. TRN reassembled and tried again in order to close the reputation gap to, let’s say, Dunu or Moondrop.

Specifications TRN BAX PRO

Physical Things and Usability

The BAX PRO features quality ingredients and an interesting architecture: 1 DD + 2 BA + 2 EST: a Beryllium diaphragm for the bass, 1 Knowles 29689 BA for the mid frequencies, and another Knowles BA 33518 as well as two Sonion electrostatic drivers for crisp treble. It also comes with a modular cable with 3.5 mm single ended and 2.5 mm & 4.4 mm balanced plugs.

In the box are the earpieces, 2 sets of eartips with three tuning switches, the modular cable with three plugs, a strange plaque, a small tool for moving the switches, the usual TRN metal storage box and the paperwork.

The CnC machined, sturdy earpieces are rather large and have a bit of an unusual nozzle angle. Some people complained about not getting them deep enough into their ear canals, I have had no issues. But I don’t get the world’s greatest isolation with them either.

The eight-strand single crystal copper cable is rather pliable and, appeal wise, average. The eartips (2 silicone sets and 1 foam set)) are also nothing to write home about. In summary, the BAX PRO’s haptic is ok.

The BAX PRO are easy to drive.

Tonality and Technicalities

It is very difficult to give you an accurate account of the sound considering the options you have with switch positions and (stock) eartips. The BAX PRO are also sensitive to insertion depth so that different reviewers may report different results. Let me start with the black stock eartips and all switches in the “off” position [“Equalization mode”].

If you expect another TRN shoutfest, you may be surprised to hear that this is not the case. The BAX PRO offer a slightly warm however transparent sound with vocals in the foreground and zero shoutiness. I was quite delighted when I tried them out the first time and left them in my ears for a couple of hours going through a selection of jazz, rock, and classical.

What sticks out to me is the lower midrange: both female and male vocals are sparkly, very well sculptured in three dimensions, and rather intimate with a very good body. Bass is digging deep but is a bit subdued, thick, and could be a tad crisper while having enough kick…a bit similar to the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones…but you can tweak this with the switches, insertion depth and eartips. The midrange has good transparency and resolution without a hint of shoutiness. Very realistic.

TRN spent lots of attention on the treble – which are very well carved out with excellent resolution. My treble testing passed, for example, Anne Sophie Mutter’s rendering of the very high violin notes of her pieces from Star Wars. Cymbals are very clean…though rather subtle.

The technical merit of the BAX PRO is also very good. Stage may be average in two dimensions, but the spatial reprodcution and imaging are excellent. You really can spot the singer on stage. Dynamics is also good.

Timbre is also rather natural. I much preferred it over the glassy BA sound of the Blessing 2, allegedly the first $1000 soundalikes at $300. I listened to a lot of Beethoven piano music and orchestral pieces with great pleasure.

The piano touch was quite realistic and revealed a good driver speed. Timbre and dynamics paired result in orchestral sounding natural and developing a healthy richness and volume. Surprising how good the BAX PRO work with acoustic instruments of any quantity.

I confirmed my positive listening impressions when connecting the BAX PRO to the EarMen stack after listening to the Sennheiser HD 600. They did hold up to my big surprise.

Let’s have a look at the switch settings.

Equalization

The standard mode which sounds best to my ears. I use this mode as comparison to the other switch settings.

Electronic Mode

Enhances the upper midrange and introduces shoutiness. Not for me.

Transparency Mode

Bass imbalance 2-3 dB. Reduces bass and adds upper midrange. Introduces even more shoutiness than Electronic mode. Transparency is good enough without this mode.

Atmospheric Enhancement

Is the same as Electronic Mode in my measurements…I did two independent measurement runs to confirm.

High-Frequency Mode

Adds to upper midrange and to treble. Only for the hardest of us who get up with cheap Bourbon whiskey in the morning. Too bright for the rest of us.

Low Frequency Mode

Essentially the same as Equalization, with the upper midrange minimally tuned down. Good.

Compared to the LETSHUOER EJ07M

The EJ07M have been one of my daily drivers for the last couple of years. They also sport electrostatic tweeters and are, at $649, ca. 50% more expensive than the BAX PRO. They feature smaller earpieces with a different nozzle angle, which probably provide a better fit for many. Their imaging is flatter than that of the BAX PRO (in the Equalization setting), they are generally a tad brighter sounding and more coherent overall.

The BAX PRO have the upper midrange dialled down (in the Equalization setting), which makes the vocals thicker but also duller and less dynamic. In terms of treble resolution, both are pretty even, with he BAX PRO possibly a tad ahead. I’d like the EJ07M’s form factor with the BAX PRO’s sound.

Overall, the price difference appears arbitrary.

Concluding Remarks

The TRN BAX PRO come as a very pleasant surprise to me. They sound enjoyable to my ears with all musical genres I threw at them. The money is essentially in the excellent holographic staging and imaging. But I am also confused: the switches are not very useful as most of the settings only add shrillness nobody needs. Sometimes, less is more!

My other criticism is the very generic accessories (cable, eartips). And some may have problems with the fit owing to the unusual nozzle angle. Sometimes, more is better!

In the end, I recommend trying them out if possible. I may have to send them on a western Canadian tour to gather some feedback from Biodegraded and Co. We may have a diamond in the rough that is overlooked owing to lack of concerted promotion and organized hype.

TRN are finally on their way to join the likes of Moondrop and Dunu in the mid tier segment (if they leave useless gimmicks such as switches off). They now have to substantiate this with other models. Durwood is currently taking on their Dragon Azure, and I am anxious to see what he will come up with.

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post TRN BAX Pro Review – Electroexstatic appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Gear of the Year: audioreviews.org is soon completing its 5th year. We are still six dedicated and competent authors located all over the western hemisphere, catering to a mature, discerning readership. Our list of earphone reviews is approaching 450 and our Wall of Excellence (WoE) is better decorated than the Christmas tree at NYC’s Rockefeller Center. Since any product on our WoE is backed by more than one opinion, it should give you confidence in your buying decisions.

However, our WoE is not a bunch of “best of” lists as we have not tested all competitors in each category. Such claims would be presumptuous.

We did, sadly, lose our single sponsor HifiGo (and some more suppliers) over our reviews of their gear. But hey, our critical, realistic approach sets us apart from 98% of the blogosphere (we think). We rather deal with companies that have confidence in their products.

Whatever gear passes our test must be somewhat good. We still don’t do Google ads, affiliate links, and we don’t allow trackers…we are no salespeople, we honour your reading pleasure and your privacy. We are simply audio aficionados.

Thank you for your patronage in 2023! Enjoy this read and we wish you a happy and successful 2024!

Hey, feel free to let us know your personal favourites of 2023 in the comments section below.

We thank our 2023 Partners

And here we go…that’s what we enjoyed in 2023…published by author in the order of submission…and purely subjective.

Loomis Johnson…Chicago, USA

Wiim Mini AirPlay 2 Wifi Streamer—the onboard DAC is just fair, and the app is quirky (if very ambitious), but through its digital out this is a genuinely excellent streamer  for less than a hundo.

BGVP DM9 IEM—energetic and massive sounding, these are head and shoulders above any other IEM I’ve heard this year. Richly priced at $600 and worth every penny.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones—Bose has marginally better ANC and Sennheiser a longer battery and better UI, but overall the XM5 would be my pick if (god forbid) I could own only one TWS.

Oladance Wearable Stereo Open Ear Headphones —eons better than any bone-conduction model out there, these come close to good in-ear TWS models for sound quality, with a rich warm sound and a big 3D stage. Hall of Fame material.

SMSL D0400  DAC/Headphone Amp—a tad more detailed (if not necessarily better-sounding) than the godlike SU-9, the inclusion of balanced out and an excellent onboard headphone amp makes this my pick among SMSL’s myriad offerings.

Truthear Shio DAC/Dongle—well featured, balanced dongle won’t make your counterfeit Beats sound like Carnegie Hall, but it sounds just slightly more transparent than its ubiquitous price peers.

JBL Boombox 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker— rather than spending ten grand to mod the sound system on his 100k pontoon boat, a very wealthy friend of mine dropped $349 on one of these. He couldn’t be happier. Link two together and you’ll be in hip-hop heaven.

Eagle Rare 10-Year Bourbon—if this was an IEM, we’d deem it “musical, balanced and fully coherent.” People are asking stupid prices for this in the secondary market, but if you can find it anywhere near its $40 SRP, buy it.

Dreamcloud Premier Rest Hybrid Mattress—the downside of buying a really good mattress is that it’ll sap your ambition faster than a meth habit. If, however, like me your ambition is to lay around and watch professional basketball, this is a necessary acquisition.

Jürgen Kraus…Calgary, CANADA

Short and sweet, as I am mainly still using my 2022 gear. And the best gear is the gear one uses after all. 2023 added a few excellent products to my daily listening. Oladance TWS Pro wearables were most impressive…and useful…a home theatre on your ears you don’t even feel. I can listen to these all day.

In terms of earphones, the Sennheiser IE 900 impressed me most because of their natural, cohesive presentation, their incredible treble quality, and their wonderful dosage across the frequency spectrum. I preferred them much more over the IE 600, which offer the same Harman type tuning we have experienced so often before. Both were sadly loaners. I also love the well-balanced Sennheiser IE 200, which are tuning wise closer to the IE 900 than to the IE 600.

Also very natural sounding are the Akoustyx S6, but they do need some modding to tame the upper midrange. As to budget TWS, I do have a pair of Moondrop Space Travel by my bedside, for talk radio and classical music. They have a very composed and nuanced presentation…and they fit me well.

Also by my bedside is the EarMan CH-Amp/Tradutto combination for driving my HD 600 and final Sonorous III. I equipped the HD 600 with a Hart Audio 4.4 mm balanced cable. Also great is the SMSL DO200 MKII DAC, which I use on my desk.

As a movable desktop stack (between sofa and kitchen table) serves the very good sounding Moondrop DiscDream CD player. A great idea to reconsider this technology — looking forward to another premium Walkman.

An honorouble mention goes to the very versatile TempoTec Serenade X Digital Desktop Player, and TempoTec as a company, as they don’t get lost in countless models of the same…no they offer one model of each product, and each is well thought out. A big step up for them in the last two years.

As a guilty pleasure, I indulged myself with USB cables for audio usage from AudioQuest (Forest), IKEA, and Monoprice. I love USB cables. And this combination of brands doesn’t leave room for the usual shitstorm by naysayers.

And hey, Loomis, we just acquired an Endy mattress. Made in Canada, of course.

Alberto Pittaluga…Bologna, ITALY

Given I’m not one of those world-famous tiktokers I guess it’s preliminary worth remembering that I have a sharp inclination to carefully avoid wasting time on even assessing “stuff” which doesn’t apriori seem to qualify for a serious upgrade to whatever I already own – an attitude of mine that applies across the board of course, not certainly to audio gear only. Such information is I presume key to better understand the following list.

Proceeding by categories, and starting with cans, towards the end of the year I got a pair of Sennheiser HD800. These were quite a lot anticipated to upgrade my pleasure on my particular library vs the HD600 – and that’s of course what happened. As a side bonus I had yet another chance to touch how important fresh pads and a decent cable are for sound optimisation, let alone how tough still is finding an overall more exquisite timbre then the one coming off my Groove.

Shrinking size down to IEMs, my trip to Munich earlier this year got me very curious about Sennheiser’s relatively recent IEM introductions, and that’s where the curiosity to assess IE900 and (from a different source) IE600 came up from.

The latter impressed me almost as much as the former, however when it comes to stunning V-shaped IEM encounters happened this year nothing beats – and I reckon will hardly beat tomorrow – Intime Sho DD.

The other major IEM acquisition of the year is represented by final B3, and their ability to capture the auditioner and port him onto the jazz stage. Honorable mention goes to Akoustykx S6 (and their “magic” Earlocks).

In terms of source gear, I completed my collection of DAPs by acquiring a Sony WM-1A, of course instantly flashing MrWalkman WM1Z signature onto it. For a number of reasons its sonic features are at the same time in line and complementary to those of my other standards: Questyle QP1R and QP2R.

Sometimes it does bring an audible improvement, other times it doesn’t – it depends on the apriori situation of the system you plug it onto. I’m talking about AudioQuest’s Jitterbug. My (quite articulated) home setup is clearly in the benefitted category, and that’s why 3 of these are now stable part of it.

Source gear honorable mention goes to a tiny-budgeted device, Ifi GO Link. That, and IEMs with a balanced cable and a 3.5mm TRRS adapter, right away became my blind buy rec to those individuals which every now and then, attracted by the gear they often see me fiddling with, ask me to indicate “something nice and inexpensive to get started with”.

Looking in retrospect what I just recapped (and I genuinely did it “live”, now, for the mere sake of putting these notes together) none of my 2023 preferred tech comes from chifi-land. The white-bearded badly-aging old continent nerd in me shily shruddered in realising it

Durwood…Chicago, USA

Kefine Klanar

Redefines what a planar can do, the Timeless 7Hz was great but it also had that overblown upper air treble that made it standout. The Klanar on the other hand dials everything down delivering similar quality bass and while not as treble exciting is better balanced, target curve crowd pleasing retaining the technical precision and quick transient delivery of the planar driver.

Moondrop Blessing Dusk 2 

Fits snugly staying in place, great technical details, with enough bass to keep me interested.

BGVP DM9

While I do not own many top tier earphones, I have listened to plenty at shows and know that they best anything I have in the $300 realm. The bass hump is well controlled and balanced nicely in the midbass/sub-bass transition region. The elevated treble plateau keeps them energized and engaging delivering maximum resolution and clarity.

SMSL DO400 DAC/AMP

Extreme value premium desktop DAC melding a powerful headphone amp. I miss the quick control of a potentiometer volume knob of a split dac/amp solution, but it is worth the feature rich resolving DAC and potent headphone amp drive.

Truthear SHIO DAC

Just as powerful as any of the dongles out there it sounds the most blended qualities of a dongle dac without leaning too warm, bassy, thin or sharp. Not head and shoulders above the LG G8, but can turn any USB-C phone into an excellent DAP for an average price.

Oladance OWS Sport

A new category of open-ear sports headphones that offers other uses while avoiding disadvantages of in-ear pressure, ear canal phobias, and isolation, earbud compromises, and over ears isolation and sweatiness. Balanced sound quality that trades low-end bass for open awareness without the lackluster bone conduction competition. Review coming soon, they know what they are doing.

TWS????

Still looking for a TWS all-rounder. I want them to fit tight without loosening slowly, excellent tonality and have good ANC. A blend of the Sony WF-1000XM3 ANC with the sound of the Moondrop Alice combined with the fitment of the KZ ZXS Pro.

When browsing the local classifieds this year I scored some very excellent sounding vintage ADS L570/2 and lesser known local midwest unicorn relic well tuned, amazing imaging cherry veneer Amrita Elan (I think) that my buddy is still scorning me over not “allowing” him to buy them instead- no worries we are still friends. He would love to get his hands on the 3 way model with isobaric woofers anyway.

Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir…Munich, GERMANY

This year passed by in the blink of an eye, but fortunately I managed to listen to hundreds of devices in this rather short span. My personal collection also went through some radical changes, so without further ado…

Firstly, I finally upgraded my reference gear, both portable and desktop. On the portable side, it’s now Lotoo PAW Gold Touch paired with the venerable Cayin C9. The desktop, meanwhile, is the recently-retired Questyle CMA Twelve Master. Having tried numerous TOTL setups so far, these two fit my needs the most. I may add a tube amp down the line, but that’s for the future.

On the IEM side of things, my daily drivers include Sennheiser IE 900 and the (discontinued) Softears Turii. The IE 900 are perhaps the most advanced in terms of driver tech, and the Turii have such a unique, spacious sound that it belies the single dynamic setup. They have received the most “ear time” this year, and will likely continue to do so in the coming year.

On the TWS side of things, I am impressed by the Beats Studio Buds Plus. For once, a Beats product is actually decent enough to be a daily driver. Apart from the middling noise cancellation, there is little I’d change about them given the price tag.

Finally, I have streamlined my headphones collection and ended up purchasing a modded Sennheiser HD 800. These hold up tremendously well against the planar magnetic behemoths even now, and the staging and imaging are unparalleled in the sub-$2000 space. I was also pleasantly surprised by Sennheiser HD 660S2, though the price tag is a bit higher than I’d prefer.

This year, I finally managed to audition the Sennheiser HE-1 for almost an hour. It was a surreal experience and I can definitely see (or hear) why these are so mythical. That being said, the Warwick Acoustics Aperio are no slouch either and trade blows with the supreme Sennheisers.

But the one pair of headphones that I can call my “personal endgame” are none other than Warwick Bravura. They get dangerously close to the summit-fi behemoths and fortunately, come pre-built as a system so you can save on the cost of an energizer or accompanying pre-amps to further flavor the sound.

Notable mentions: Campfire Audio Supermoon (perhaps the best sounding planar IEMs), Softears Twilight (fantastic single DD), Effect Audio Code 23 (the best copper cable I have ever tried, despite the challenging ergonomics), iFi Go Blu (fantastic little dongle), Cayin RU7 (replaced Questyle M15 for my portable use).

Biodegraded…Vancouver, CANADA

Environmentally friendly, as his name implies, he stuck to his 2021 gear…again. Gives us carbon credits.

Gear of the Year 2022

The post Gear Of The Year 2023 – Our Personal Favourites appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The $112 KZ AS24 is a well executed 12-driver-a-side earphone that impresses by its cohesive, vivid presentation. Yes, finally a KZ that impresses.

The KZ AS24 was sent to me unsolicited by the manufacturer for my analysis. I thank them for that, You can buy them from KZ Official Store.

Introduction

This is a review of the non-tunable version of the KZ AS24 earphone (a version if tuning switches is also available). I was a KZ buyer of (almost) the first hour…and started loading up back in 2017. You could get single-dynamic-driver models for $5-7 CAD packaged in plain blue boxes. At that time, the price of balanced-armature drivers fell dramatically so that KZ started experimenting with this technology as one of the first in the budget segment. The older ChiFi aficionados may remember the famous KZ ZS5 and ZS6, which sold for less than $30 USD.

KZ started releasing different models on an assembly line, and most if not all of these had the same characteristics, not well liked by the western ears: a strong V-shape with buried vocals and an elevated upper midrange, which many of us perceived as shouty. And the number of drivers appeared to increase from model to model.

For me, this driver craze ended with the ASX, which offered 10 BA per side…but very little music. It also made me quit silly YouTube videos and focus on the written word.

While KZ continue flooding the market with increasingly more models, their AS 24 (yes, this one) is finally a good earphone, offered at a decent price…which makes for great value. Good that I can still experience this in my lifetime. There are two versions available, one as is (for a lazy guy like me), and the other with 8 tuning switches, for the tinkerer.

Specifications KZ AS24 (Standard Version)

Physical Things and Usability

The unboxing may be disappointing for some: despite being their flagship, KZ stick to their no-frills presentation of no storage case, a rather “simple” cable, their standard eartips (SM/L plus a pair of foams), and their paperwork.

The large earpieces follow the same recipe as most previous KZ models with their standard translucent resin material. Although each shell hosts 12 drivers it is not bigger than, for example the Moondrop Blessing 2 or the TempoTec IM5. The cable, although not spectacular in appearance, works well in terms of pliability.

Comfort and fit are good for me, and so it isolation. But I have to use SpinFit CP145 eartips, as the stock ones are too small for me.

Tonality and Technicalities

Don’t forget, I have the standard edition without switches, which is somewhat on the bassy side (with the SpinFits), at least when compared to the vocals in the lower midrange. Despite the many drivers, there is no issue with cohesion and the sound does not exhibit the usual BA timbre, but is reasonable natural.

Star is the bass: super deep digging, thumpy, driving, energetic, lively, well composed. If I had switch, I’d dial it back a tad. It conflicts a bit with the more recessed male/female voices of the lower midrange. Midrange resolution, transparency, and clarity are quite good.

Compared to earlier KZ models and also to the frequency response graph, the recession is actually acceptable and not a dealbreaker. It adds to the soundstage and imaging. Vocals are articulate and well placed in 3D space. There is no shoutiness whatsoever as the frequency starts dropping off at 3 kHz.

This leads to a safe, middle-of-the-road treble response. Cymbals and high notes are well resolving but a bit in the background. This combination leads to a soundstage of lower average width with very good depth, and to great spatial cues. The 12 drivers do an excellent job in terms of imaging, separation, and layering. That’s where your money is.

In comparison, the $150 Sennheiser IE 200 with their single dynamic driver have a flatter tuning with a wider stage lacking the AS24’s depth. While the AS24 are technically superior, the IE 200 are more fluid with a wider but shallower stage. Another big difference is the size of the earpieces…after all, 12 drivers need a lot of space.

The Tempotec IM05 with their 5 drivers have similarly bulky shells and feature a similar V-shaped tuning as the AS24, but with a peakier upper midrange. That’s where the AS24 gets the upper hand. Both have an elevated bass compared to neutral.

Concluding Remarks

KZ have finally produced an iem that, in my opinion, can be considered as very good for its class. For your $112, you get an iem that had cost $200 a couple of years ago. The AS24’s dominant features are its deep digging, thumpy bass and its immersive, holographic stage with very good imaging, which contribute to its lively, dynamic sonic reproduction. Its shortcomings are maybe KZ’s continued recessed midrange, which is not a big deal in this case. But they have eliminated shoutiness and glare.

Yep, KZ are finally starting to rock…after so many tens of models. Congrats. If you want to try a KZ earphone, start with their flagship. Think Big!

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post KZ AS24 (Standard Version) Review – Steamy Flagship appeared first on Music For The Masses.

BEGINNINGS

I never thought I would see my Starfield again, but then the Universe delivers the Moondrop Starfield 2 to my doorstep. Not much of a spiritual individual, I was still thankful I get another chance to reminisce.

Truth be told, the Aria would have been more my type to boogie with, but it was released later than the Starfield. Like all impatient audio junkies, I wanted the quick fix of what was new now.

The new Moondrop Starfield 2 is better than version one where the treble brilliance took a trip to the basement and never came back. We should take hints from kids, always shine a light before embarking on a trip to the darkness.

What to expect from the new version? A more forward upper midrange paired with a less gradual decline in treble output with a topping of sparkle and tighter controlled bass.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

Borrowing 1960’s hot-rod paint jobs or old amusement park rides for the kids in us, the Moondrop Starfield 2 utilizes the familiar shell that helps to keep tooling costs down for production. The iridescent paint is beautiful on top of the cast alloy zinc shell.

I believe there were reports of the original Starfield paint had a tendency to chip off. That does not mean the Starfield 2 would suffer the same fate, but painted metal things bouncing against each other will eventually show wear, call it patina or just be warned.

Inside they have stuffed the Moondrop Starfield 2 with a new 10mm dynamic constructed of Magnesium and Lithium alloy that claims to be more rigid and lighter than pure Beryllium.

This should equate to precise and quick transients, and hopefully push the breakup mode of the driver past our threshold of hearing. That is usually the goal of extremely rigid driver materials.

The faceplates are flat vs the angled ones from the Kanas Pro and Kato designs. Moondrop chose to make the screw a decorative feature. The tips of the nozzle also unscrews to change the mesh screen.

I have taken pictures in the past of these screens, and they are rather intricate and specialized to not only keep the moisture out, but apply acoustic filtration.

Also new the Moondrop Starfield 2 are vent hole plugs, in comparison to modders using micropore tape in the past to increase bass. You need patience to attach them, but once attached they increase the bass to bass head levels in a straight liner shot to the bottom. There are also plugs with holes, but it did not seem to change anything different than just leaving them out. 

The 2 pin cable is a striking blue color of twisted silver strand wrapped in a slightly rubberized texture sheath. The brass accents standout and match the brass nozzle. It’s rather weighty at 32g while both ear pieces clock in at 22g together. Microphonics are rendered moot, but the weight of the cable puts a damper in another way.

SOUND

Tested with the Shanling UA2 Plus and SMSL DO100 with HO100, the Moondrop Starfield 2 is a lightweight with the bass, easy on the lower midrange and focused on upper mids with a sprinkle of sparkle. This is the essence of Moondrop’s VSDF target curve many of their products follow with varying degrees of refinement.

The dynamic driver feels quicker than past iterations and the sub bass rumble is adequate. The vent plug drastically changes that, so if you desire they respond well to EQ instead. Still the midbass has a soft start but a tight finish. Despite the relatively minor bass lift it rolls into the lower midrange nicely avoiding sounding too thin.

Midrange clarity is excellent for this tier of IEMs producing well rounded vocals that sound exciting and pure. Note definition has proper decay exhibiting good depth making instruments sound believable. The upper midrange lift is more than my personal preference by a few decibels, but it hangs back ever so slightly before it steps out of bounds. This pinna gain aids in the clarity perception.

The Moondrop Starfield 2 treble is in-offensive and delicate, brass never sounds honky in quieter passages and picks up the slight flutters of saxophones and flutes. A little kick in the brilliance at 10Khz adds excitement and helps to uplift the final stage keeping it from sounding too flat. Purists will probably object, but the original Starfield was too tame for me near this area. What can I say, I enjoy some spice.

Lately I have been giving the Ibasso IT01 some light of day, I felt another oldie but goodie that was frequently recommended in this price bracket deserves a chance. Some might remember the Pioneer SE-CH9T, if not no worries.

They share similarities in the bass department until the Moondrop Starfield 2 except the Pioneer goes flat before making it to the midbass, quantity and quality are equivalent. I find the Starfield 2 has more note weight when listening to stand up bass. 

The Pioneer is more balanced overall, it doesn’t quite have the sharpness at the pinna gain around 3khz. Staging sounds wider on the CH9T and some dips in the treble take the edge off and push the whole stage backwards in comparison to the Starfield 2 with its more forward nature.

I picked up some resolution improvements in the presence region on the Starfield 2. Shakers and cymbals sparkle on the Moondrop Starfield 2 and shine like watching a newer movie shot with digital cameras. The Pioneer feels more analog with a grainy quality. 

Another one of my favorite picks between the $80-100 mark depending on purchase date, the TinHifi T4 is a good match-up for the Moondrop Starfield 2. While following a more similar target to the Pioneer, the T4 has more mid-bass thump and grunt compared to the Starfield 2. Upper midrange on the T4 is a more pleasant and longer session tune for me, but the Starfield 2 has snappier snares. 

While the stage sounds wider on the T4, I do not sense as much separation when compared to the Moondrop Starfield 2. Micro detail resolution winner is the Starfield 2. I clearly pick out each instrument and place them as if listening live, the T4 otherwise sounds more like a great recording.

So what have I missed, perhaps at this point I should mention they offer between good or great isolation. While I sort of miss the sticky and unique Spring ear tips, I think the sizing on them was off and not appreciated by the masses so instead we get rather generic eartips. Storing them is easy in the flip top leather case that can also be found with the Kato.

SO WHAT NOW?

Moondrop really hangs their hat on the VSDF tuning which is more diffuse than the Harman tuning. Moondrop Starfield 2 enhances a few areas on the old Starfield while dare I say, undercutting the previously popular Kato in terms of technical abilities. It will be a shining star for those that crave sharp definition and resolution while not overdoing either in air or bass (unless you want to). 

I have personally bought my way up the Moondrop ladder with the Kanas Pro (retired), Starfield (lost), Kato and Blessing Dusk 2 still in rotation and have previously reviewed the Alice TWS.

I can say the Starfield 2 is good company however not kicking older brothers and sisters out of the house. Kato and Alice still deliver more technicalities than the Starfield 2, but the $100 buys a fantastic floor seat to a great concert anchoring itself at the gate for others to attempt to push past.

Disclaimer: I thank SHENZHENAUDIO/Moondrop for providing these at no cost. While I have purchased the original Starfield, Kanas Pro, Kato, and Blessing Dusk 2 on my own dime you could say I am a bit of a fanboy – I still keep my biases in check.

SPECIFICATIONS

GRAPHS

• Left vs Right
• Open Vent vs Plug
• Moondrop Graph Comparison of Starfield and Starfield 2

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DISCLAIMER

Get it from SHENZHENAUDIO.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

The post Moondrop Starfield 2 Review (1) – Deadly Electric Boogaloo With An Old Friend appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The $139 TempoTec IM05 is a 4+1 iem with fabulous imaging qualities that may have a tad too much bass for some.

The TempoTec IM05 was kindly supplied by the manufacturer for my review – and I thank them for that. You can purchase it from TempoTec Official Store .

Introduction

TempoTec’s claim to small fame came with their budget dongle DACs that were unbeatable at their price. For example, their $40 Sonata HD Pro came with all accessories to even work with iPhone.

Recently, the company has expanded gear wise and simultaneously moved out of the budget realm. They now feature the excellent V6 dap, the great Serenade X desktop streamer, and the March III M3 desktop DAC/amp. One device per category, all mid-fi, and all surprisingly good.

With the IM05 (IM stands for “Impromptu”, 05 for the number of drivers), TempoTec enters yet another category: earphones. And TL;DR, they do another good job. No rookie mistakes, the IM05 is a mature product. It was actually designed to harmonize with the V6 DAP.

Specifications TempoTec IM05

Physical Things and Usability

In the box are the earpieces with plenty of silicone tips, a fancy cable, a very roomy storage case, and the paperwork. The earpieces are large but light, they are comfortable, fit me well, and they isolate well, too. The cable is gorgoeous both haptically and functionally (“pliable”).

Tonality and Technicalities

The TempoTec IM05 is warmish sounding with a good depth and headroom and a decent timbre (considering it has 4 BAs), but with a “broad” lower mid bass that smears into the lower midrange. It sounds nothing like the graph implies, paradoxically.

Yep, the bass is the polarizing feature, with its strong cat buckle (in the graph) that culminates at the transition mid-bass/sub-bass. This makes for a thick and somewhat punchy midbass, but with a rather subtle impact and intensity that does not torture my eardrums. The Azul Performer 5 does the opposite.

TempoTec offer this kind of bass lift also in their V6 DAP and March III M3 DAC/amp. It appears to be part of their house sound. In fact, the $4000 Fir Audio iems offer a similar bass impact.

Bass lines are generally on the rich side. Extension into the sub-bass is average but, paradoxically, the lowest frequencies are leaner than the mid bass. There is always a subtle but never annoying rumble down there.

The bass smears into the midrange which has the positive effect that it re-inforces male and female voices alike, but it also cuts into the midrange transparency. Strangely enough, vocals are not recessed but rather intimate, despite the mickey mouse ears in the upper midrange’s graph segment.

There is also no shoutiness. I can only explain this by the balance between elevated bass and upper midrange in combination with the recessed treble.

Somebody tuned these iems by ear and not by graph, obviously. And it works. Vocals are very well rendered and nicely layered, they have a 3D effect and are almost holographic. They are neither thick or thin but are nicely intimate and rather articulate.

Treble is subtle overall, the extension is..well..not well extended. The high notes are somewhat swept under the carpet. Older listeners like me won’t probably care that much.

That combination of modest treble and extension and bass lift make for a deep but not too wide (but wide enough) stage. Midrange resolution is excellent as long as there is no strong bass superimposed. Separation and layering are also very good, not to forget the outstanding imaging. When listening to concerts with interaction of musicians and audience, I always feel I am in the building or stadium.

In comparison, the $150 single DD Sennheiser IE 150 are more fluid with a more emphasized midrange, but they have flatter staging and less resolution. The LETSHUOER S12 is less holographic with lesser imaging but somewhat smoother (after micropore tape mod).

The IKKO OH10 on our Wall of Fame plays vocals leaner, sharper, and more recessed, at similar imaging qualities. The Dunu Talos has a wider stage but lacks depth in comparison, and the notes are leaner. The first model in my collection to beat the I M05 is the $650 LETSHUOER EJ07 in that its sonic presentation is somewhat smoother with better rounded notes, but the IM05 is still better imaging.

The discontinued $699 Dunu Zen is better resolving but has an upper midrange glare. I prefer the IM05 over the lesser imaging and resolving Moondrop KATO. In summary, the IM05 are also head and shoulders above most $150-200 ChiFi fare I have tested, at least in terms of imaging.

Concluding Remarks

The TempoTec IM05 is an enjoyable 4+1 iem with an agreeable sonic signature. I have auditioned way more than 500 iems, but never had exactly this listening experience, so it is somewhat mainstream with new features, particularly the bass (though it may be considered being too boosted by some).

Since it is the company’s first iem, many analysts may “laud a good initial effort” while tacitly recommending the reader to wait for the “Pro” version. This is not necessary for the IM05, TempoTec got it right on the first try, as is the case with their V6 dap, Serenade X streamer, and March III M3 DAC/amp.

It was a pleasure testing the IEM05, an outright inspiration following my bundle of 10 Chifi iems that landed on my desk just before Christmas. TempoTec keep surprising.

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post TempoTec IM05 Review – Uniquely Mainstream appeared first on Music For The Masses.

INTRO

It’s IEMs like the $629 BGVP DM9 that make listening enjoyable and ruin the lower tier IEMs. BGVP came to prominence with their DM6 and DMG back in the day and made their forum victory laps for a while until new toys came out. There have been several iterations of the DMx family, although they were above my typical shopping price range, a quick survey says they have been well liked. 

The BGVP DM9 is a nine driver hybrid with famed balanced armatures from the market leaders Sonion and Knowles, and the newer technology of EST. The BGVP DM9 bathes you in uber detail and resolution, with a lively energetic treble while not pounding you to pulp with overblown bass in a wavy Harman plus tune.

DESIGN

With a 4 way electronic filter circuit, the BGVP DM9 separates the bands starting with a 9.2mm liquid silicone dynamic for bass, Knowles BA RAD, Sonion 2300 for the midrange, Sonion E50 series for the treble, and finally the Sonion EST65QB02 extending that final octave at the top. 

BGVP does not stop there, some of the sound tubes use a resistive filter to smooth out the resonances and act as further filtering. The tubes ensure the sound is controlled all the way to the exit and reduces interference inside the shell.

COMFORT / ISOLATION

The BGVP DM9 comes in a custom painted wooden shell in two colors, green or blue/purple. The latter is definitely more eye-catching, but I opted for the less boisterous but still beautiful green. The shell is on the larger side, and does not fit as snugly as the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk. For longer periods of time I found the top of the shell has a slight edge that creates unwanted pressure on my ear. YMMV.

BGVP DM9 isolation is above average, however fitment creates some cavities that tend to amplify wind caught at the wrong angle. The BGVP DM9 did stay firmly planted during walking, so that is always appreciated. I trade minor discomfort for constant readjustment any day of the week.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

The leather carrying case of the BGVP DM9 is plenty roomy and the ease of opening and closing was strangely satisfying to my wife. It is on the larger size, so bag and coat packet friendly, but side-eye glances will ensue if stuffing it down your pants pocket. There is also a handy cleaning tool with a loop for scooping out the gross gunk and the other end is equipped with a brush and small magnet.

Three full sets of different eartips are included, plus a bonus set of U shaped medium sized eartips guaranteed to increase the midbass region and almost forgotten- a singular set of foamies. Two of the sets are labeled “Bass” and the third set are ”Vocal” type. Of the “Bass” sets, the clear stemmed ones are less firm, have a shorter stem for closer placement to your eardrum, and a larger opening. I had to ask BVGP if these were meant to be called reference,  atmosphere or balanced, but alas they said no they were definitely “Bass” tips.

 The other bass set has a longer stem, firmer, a smaller opening and worked better for sealing in my experience.

The vocal set of ear-tips were a combination of the two bass sets. They were basic level of firmness, short stem, and a smaller opening.

The set of foam eartips are useful for taming the upper treble if too bright. It tilts the plateau of treble in a downward trajectory to make them more appealing for a more traditional tune.

BGVP DM9 comes with a detachable MMCX 6N OCC braided cable with swap-able 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced connectors. The connection is not as tight as the Kinera Golden 2.0, but is not so loose it falls off. It will disconnect at that connection point before the 3.5mm/4.4mm plug if pulled on. I have not paid much attention to cable technology these days, but BGVP managed to combine graphene in the strands as well. No way to test this, so just take their word for it.

SOUND

Tested with the LG G8, HIDIZS AP80 Pro-X, Shanling UA2+, and SMSL DO100/HO100.

The BGVP DM9 does so many things well, but I wanted to start at the top. It drenches you in so much splashy upper treble that is hard to find in lesser capable sets. The detail is quite exquisite, and controlled, maybe at times slightly overdamped if I had to nitpick. While this might sound like too much treble, it is well spread out evenly with some strategically placed dips to average it out. 

Compared to the 7Hz Timeless which also plays fast and loose with the treble, the Timeless sounds more concentrated in a smaller band of frequencies.The BGVP DM9 on the other hand is like looking through a microscope at the level of detail across the entirety. Acoustic guitars really pop due to a peak at 5Khz, it gives rock music a very live concert feel. 

Listening to some of the only classical I enjoy from US pop culture, Back to the Future Overture washes a whole orchestra across your face.. Other sets sound very flat, the BGVP dimensionally layers the different parts of the orchestra to sound very dare I say the cliche life-like. The price of admission comes at the cost of sitting in the front row for the symphony.

Paramore’s original hit Misery Business has new ife as if it would ever go out of style. Lesser qualified IEMs will just reproduce as another pop song sounding busy and crowded. The  BGVP DM9 loafs through, allowing all parts to shine and feel effortless which is ironic for a punk rock band where raw grit is the goal. Pink Panther by Henry Mancini is another song that just sounds light and airy as cymbals and chimes traverse gently through.

Vocals are pleasant and not recessed, sounds balanced and never strained. The middle band of the frequency response never really catches my attention, but bookended by such wonderful treble and excellent controlled articulate bass, it does not ever feel lacking.

The BGVP DM9 pushes authoritative bass with a purpose that knows what it wants to be. Well damped in the mid bass with a nice rounding out of lower registers, haptic is light. The boost is well centered, pianos sound percussive and full without sounding bloated. Purists will probably think there is a sprinkle of too much warmth, much like arguing over a heating setting of 70F/21C vs 68F/20C. 

Bass guitar slaps and bass plucks are well defined, and not just lost in the resonation of it all. I did find a hiccup in the set sent to me so only a sampling size of one. Channel imbalance in the bass by ~2,5db. I can feel it pull a little, this is near the threshold of detection. Probably a minor blockage in the shell vent on the inside, unfortunately I have no way to determine which channel has the tuning level BGVP was aiming for, or if other sets will have this anomaly.

UPDATE: BGVP was concerned about the channel imbalance so they sent a new set. The second set had better channel matching, with only a 1dB channel difference in the bass which is undetectable when listening. This is a company that honesty cares about their product and takes criticism seriously.

FURTHER TECHNICAL

In the name of detail sometimes it can be too much depending on the recording. It would be unfair to label it as too much of a good thing, instead what it does is expand the gap between good and bad recordings. Sometimes a set of earphones will really uplift everything without drawing too much attention to what might be wrong in a recording. 

The BGVP DM9 is the friend you want to give it to you straight.  The House is Rockin’ by Brian Setzer Orchestra gets a little hairy. I would give it a trim and tighten it up. The triangle sounds garbled and overdamped in  Mountains O’Things by Tracy Chapman, but on Pink Panther by Henry Mancini it rings true. This is an example of really accentuating the aspects of the recordings. Listening further to Pink Panther and some Chesky drum improvisations the resolution and detail of cymbals is ear tingly excellent.

There were a couple of tracks that sounded so realistic I startled myself during a walk thinking something was actually nearby. These would make excellent gaming headphones where you might want to hear in extreme detail with wide positional aspects. They do have excellent depth with layering, but run overall forward with peaks around 2K and 5K anchoring staging close. 

The BGVP DM9 can deliver micro-dynamics with sheer ease, so much so that I can hear hidden details in songs (cliche), but also hidden noise in electronics. In casual Spotify listening, I was either hearing some electronic noise from my external DAC or from the Spotify itself during song transitions.

Jumping back and forth between different gear and sources, the LG G8 can sound more bassy while the SMSL DO100/HO100 sounded more even keeled. It’s wonderful yet troublesome to have at your disposal something with greater resolution. Some of these nuances can be picked out for better or worse.

COMPARISONS

BGVP DM9 ($629) vs Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk ($329)

Sorry not exactly swimming in flagships, the BGVP DM9 against the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk is the best I can do. The Moondrop is highly regarded, and lacks the airness the BGVP DM9 puts forth. Even the tuner himself Crinacle admits this is perhaps the only missing piece of the Dusk for cost reasons. Crinacle also prefers a thinner sounding lower midrange, so the BGVP DM9 sounds fuller and warmer with extra bass guitar and piano percussion. 

Just like the HIDIZS MS5 comparison, the DM9 has a more forward stage compared to the Moondrop Dusk. Resolution and clarity are equals, but the DM9 is going to extract more zing from metallic instruments that need room to really activate the harmonics. As we get older this information might be lost on us. I am not there yet, so I fully appreciate it.

HIDIZS MS5 ($399) vs BGVP DM9 ($629)

Bass is thicker and fuller still on the HIDZS MS5 and more haptic rumble (graph below), the BGVP DM9 is faster sounding by a toe in a foot race. Midrange sounds a notch more mature with the DM9, however the treble sounds more even with the MS5.

Where the BGVP comes out on tops again is that extra harmonics and air in the final octave, the MS5 has a subduction past 10Khz, but then pops again at the threshold of where our hearing drops off, the BGVP DM9 keeps the party going until 4am with that sweet treble extension. It’s like having a ribbon super tweeter. MS5 is warm and thick, BGVP is analytical and energetic.

I am not sure if these are equals, if you are shopping for $400 earphones, is $600+ also something worth considering? I feel like people shopping for the MS5 have budgets in the $300-500 range, and the BGVP DM9 is sitting with folks shopping for $600-1000.

These are arbitrary price ranges, but I feel like this is how they might stack up for prospective buyers. At this price you can find heavily used, uncomfortably shaped Campfire Andromeda. It has been a few years since I last heard a set. This would be a fun comparison, I specifically remember snare drums really standing out.

OUTRO

BGVP DM9 is highly detailed, resolving throughout, and tuned to deliver a healthy dose of treble with enough bass and midrange to not be forgotten earning its flagship moniker. It follows the spirit of Harman tuning but with some ripples in the treble, and additional super tweeter air added with the Sonion EST’s adds just enough.

If you prefer a diffuse field tuning that portrays a stage pushed further away like the Moondrop Blessing Dusk 2, the BGVP DM9 might have too much energy in the 5kHz region making for a uneven stage. I enjoy being drenched in microscopic dynamics so it is an extremely fun and lively listen.

Build quality is excellent from the outside, but I am bothered by the bass channel imbalance. At this price I expect that to be caught during End -Of-Line testing, but perhaps the cost is in the parts and design and not necessarily in further QC activities.

It’s not a deal breaker for me because they are still exceptional at what they do, but it is in the realm of differential threshold audibility. The super tweeter ESTs ratchet up the price for value to take a hit, but then again there are plenty of kilo-buck IEMs to also keep it in perspective.

UPDATE: BGVP was concerned about the channel imbalance so they sent a new set. The second set had better channel matching, with only a 1dB channel difference in the bass which is undetectable when listening. This is a company that honesty cares about their product and takes criticism seriously. The purple blue color is also very striking and eye catching.

Disclaimer: I accepted these free from BGVP thinking they were sending a set of NS10’s. I am a little giddy these came instead after a deep dive. Unbeknownst during this review we have evolved to “Dad and Mom” graduating from “Mommy and Daddy”. I hope to avoid the formal phase Mother and Father.

SUMMARY

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensitivity:≥110dB SPL/mW
Input Resistance: 30Ω
Frequency : 10Hz-40kHz
Distortion: < 0.5%
Sound Difference: 士1dB
Rated Power: 179mW
Cavity Material: Cured wood
Driver Unit:
Sonion EST65QB02*1
Sonion BA (E50 Series) *1
        Sonion BA (2300 Series) 1         Knowles BA(RAD Series)1
        Liquid Silicone VF DD*1
Cable: 4 Strands OCC Silver Plated Graphene Mixed Cable
Cable length: 120cm士10%

GRAPHS

• Left vs Right
• BGVP DM9 vs Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk vs HIDIZS MS5
• Haptic Bass Extension closeup
• Impedance Plot
• Second Pair with bass imbalance <1db undetectable when listening.
• First Pair (Green Brown) vs Second Pair (Red Blue)-First pair shifted to avoid overlapping graphs of second set.

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DISCLAIMER

Get it from any of the numerous distributors on ALIEXPRESS, SHENZHENAUDIO, HIFIGO, ETC

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

The post BGVP DM9 Review – Ear Hairs Will Dance appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — Hidizs MS5 have thick nozzles that can compromise comfort
– 4.4mm balanced cable is a separate purchase
– Need more venting to avoid pressure buildup
– Recessed lower-mids
– Mircodynamics are barely perceptible
– Tuning can be too “in-your-face” at times

INTRODUCTION

Hidizs is mostly known for the “source” products in its lineup, be it the dongles or the DAPs like AP80 Pro X. The IEMs released so far have been in the budget range and mostly tried to keep up with the competition rather than challenge them head-on.

The Hidizs MS5 aim to buck that trend. These are the most expensive IEMs Hidizs have ever produced. Heck, if memory serves right (and looking at their current lineup), the MS5 are the most expensive product Hidizs has ever launched.

This heightened price tag brings forth elevated expectations. Do the Hidizs MS5 showcase a performance that befits the price, or do they fall short of the high bar? Let’s find out.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Hidizs was kind enough to send me the MS5 for evaluation.

Sources used: Questyle CMA Twelve Master.
Price, while reviewed: USD$400. Can be bought from Hidizs.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

Hidizs managed to make their flagship packaging look the part. While the box has no fancy layers like some manufacturers do, it is chock full of high quality accessories. You get the IEMs themselves, 9 pairs of eartips, two pairs of extra tuning filters, an 8-core cable, and a large carrying case.

The stock cable is very good – flexible/pliable and doesn’t tangle easily. It’s a single-crystal copper and silver-plated copper hybrid. The earhooks are on the stiffer side and I am not a fan of the strange design Hidizs picked for the 2-pin housing.

The stock tips form a good seal, and I found the balanced tips to go well with the stock tuning. The stem is hard though, so those with small ear canals might require tip-rolling for better comfort. The carrying case has ample room to fit the IEMs with the cable alongside the tuning filters. This makes the case too large to put in the pocket, however.

All in all, Hidizs did not skimp on the accessories, but I would have preferred the option to select 4.4mm balanced cable as “stock cable” during purchase. As of now it’s a separate accessory and this should not be the case.

BUILD QUALITY

The 3D-printed, UV-cured resin shells of the Orchestra Lite have good consistency and give a dense feeling in the hand. There are some refractions inside the shells though some may consider them a design element. Nonetheless, overall shell quality is similar to Moondrop’s Blessing2, if not at a slightly higher level.

The backplate evokes a sense of depth, though the artwork itself is somewhat generic. There are no vents on the shell, making this a completely sealed design.

The nozzle has three bores, one for each frequency band (bass, mids, treble). More on this later. Unfortunately, the large size makes it difficult to fit some tips.

Finally, the flush 2-pin ports complete the build tour (I prefer them recessed though). In short: Hidizs has managed to create a striking design that makes the MS5 instantly recognizable.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

Comfort is average due to the large nozzle size. Moreover, the singular vent is not enough to alleviate the pressure buildup, and a tight seal creates some discomfort. .

SOURCE AND EARTIPS

The Hidizs MS5 are very easy to power, a bit too easy some would say due to the ultra-low 5.3 ohms impedance. Reality is that these are source-picky IEMs. They demand a source with very low output impedance (below 0.5ohms) and the noise floor also has to be low to not pick up any hiss.

As for tips, I used the stock “balanced” tips and they provided adequate seal.

DRIVER SETUP

Hidizs goes for a five driver hybrid setup, with 1 dynamic driver + 4 balanced armature drivers arranged in a 3-way crossover design. The single DD (kevlar dome + silicone surround) and a Sonion 17A003 is in charge of the lows and lower-mids respectively, a and a pair of “composite” Sonion E50DT as super-tweeters for ultra-high frequencies.

There is also the “nozzle-based” tuning option where you can replace the stock nozzle with one of the supplied ones and they dampen (or increase) the treble, resulting in a heightened or lower sense of bass respectively. I ended up using the default balanced nozzle since the other two sounded too bloated (bass nozzle) or too brittle (treble nozzle).

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

Hidizs MS5 have a highly energetic V-shaped tuning with some extra sizzle up top.

The most impressive aspect of the MS5 has to be the bass response. It’s fast, punchy, and slams hard. After a series of IEMs with disappointing bass, the MS5 buck that trend fairly well. However, the bass can get too fast at times, with some decaying notes being overshadowed by the leading edge of the next note. This also hurts bass texture a bit, missing some of that “organicness” associated with the best dynamic drivers out there. However, it’s a minor sacrifice to make for an otherwise excellent bass response.

Mids are a mixed bag. The lower mids have good body and density but sit behind the bass and treble in the mix. This results in a loss of “focus” when it comes to male vocals, and the transition from lower midrange to upper midrange is handled abruptly. There is some hollowness between 1.5-3kHz, which adds some chestiness to soaring male vocals.

The mids don’t sound overly shouty, shrill, or thin though, so there’s that. Acoustic guitars sound a bit blunted, with the low notes getting more focus. Guitar riffs are in the background when cymbals are also playing around the same volume but this helps in reigning in what could be “aggressiveness overload”.

Finally, we get to the treble which is the most polarizing aspect of the Hidizs MS5. It is noticeably elevated, putting cymbals and hi-hats in added focus. There is a lot of energy in the sound, which may get too much at times. Those who prefer high-energy tuning will find the MS5 right up their alley. It’s a bit too much for my tastes, however. Adding some dip around 6kHz via EQ helps in smoothing out the signature, so try that out if you want less fatigue in the tuning.

Soundstage is strange. It doesn’t sound cramped but the depth is not well rendered. Stage height is good though. Imaging is good when it comes to cardinal positioning, but center imaging suffers as things sound in your head instead of projected to the front..

Macrodynamic punch is very good, while microdynamics are lacking. General resolution is good even though most of it can be attributed to the extra-sizzly treble response.

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Moondrop Blessing2 Dusk

Moondrop Blessing2 Dusk have been out in the market for a while and Moondrop recently released the updated model in Blessing3. As I have not heard the updated model, I’d mostly compare with the ageing B2 Dusk.

In terms of build and accessories, the MS5 win hands down. Comfort is a question mark on both of these IEMs. Isolation is slightly better on the MS5 though, and they sport the tuning mechanism even though it makes little difference to me.

As for the sound, the Blessing2 Dusk go for a more neutral, analytical tuning vs the bombastic, high energy MS5 tuning. The bass is noticeably faster and slams harder on the MS5, while the B2 Dusk opts for a nimbler, more lightweight bass response. This lighter bass rendition meshes well with the mids of the B2 Dusk which is slightly thinner/colder than the MS5 while being more upfront. Treble is not as aggressive on the B2 Dusk, sacrificing treble forwardness for airiness.

In the end, I find the B2 Dusk more suited for those who prefer a somewhat neutral tone without completely sacrificing bass punch. The mids are thinner but the rest of the frequencies are fairly balanced. The MS5 have a more colored presentation that works well with some genres (Pop, Rock, Hip-hop) while sounding too forward in fast-paced metal tracks.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Hidizs broke the price barrier with the MS5, and their marketing push indicates that the brand has a lot riding on the success of the MS5.

I’d say the MS5 are living on the edge: a bit further and they become too aggressive, a few steps back and they become too unremarkable. It’s not the most comfortable position to be in, but the MS5 manage to toe the line.

There is no denying that Hidizs’ choice of tuning here will be polarizing, but that also means those who like such high energy presentation will find only the MS5 as a suitable purchase option. Only Sennheiser IE 300 offer a similar tuning in the <USD$500 bracket and they fall behind in terms of technicalities.

So the MS5 are not something I’d recommend as an all-rounder, rather they are for the moments when you need that extra dose of treble and bass. I expect more refinement on the tuning front, however, and I hope Hidizs controls the treble better in the next release to make their offerings more universally appealing.

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DISCLAIMER

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Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post Hidizs MS5 Review (3) – Living On The Edge appeared first on Music For The Masses.

INTRO

Ambitious and hungry, the HIDIZS MS5 Dark Angel flagship emerges with hopes and dreams of chanting hymns from the shadows. Utilizing four quality balanced armatures from Sonion combined with a custom liquid crystal kevlar fiber dynamic driver, the HIDIZS MS5 is designed to extract the finest essence from all your recordings like a vampire.

HIDIZS aims to be the one stop shop everything portable audio company with past excellent products we reviewed such as the S9 Pro DAC and the AP80 Pro X. The HIDIZS MS5 is the shot of Irish cream in your coffee with quick bass speed, a sprinkle of lively midrange and exacting microdynamics in the treble worthy of a premium title.

Disclaimer: HIDIZS provided these directly to Audioreviews prior to the pre-sale. We chose to skip the affiliate links, donating to any Super PACS, having wisdom teeth removed, and waiting in long lines. Pre-sale pricing is $379 directly from HIDIZS starting April 21,2023 12am EST, after pre-sale period ends retail is listed at $399 and will be available from other retailers.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

Inside the package of the HIDIZS MS5 Dark Angel you will get a premium accessory kit. The earpieces are a one piece anodized aluminum alloy shell designed to reduce fingerprints and maintain a long lasting durable finish. They are large and bulky which makes for handling easy, but those with smaller ears might find them too large.

The universal shape is not as tight fighting as the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk or the Shozy Form 1.4 which both fit me better. The MS5 right ear piece requires some readjustment from time to time. This is normal for me on a majority of sets. The Moondrop and Shozy tuck into my crevices better, where the MS5 floats. Fitment is an extremely personal experience.

Adorned on the outside for all the world to see, the dark angel panel face plate is made with a skin friendly resin, although the only time it comes into contact with skin is via fingertips from inserting into your ears. The Dark Angel nomenclature comes from this face plate, but I cannot help un-see a Venom Marvel character, or forgive me a bicycle helmet. Who knew we needed ear protection without the hearing protection.

Sandwiched between the aluminum cavity and the resin face plate is a rose gold colored mesh that is for decoration only. All venting is provided through a controlled vent port that is of exact size to make sure both earpieces have no discrepancy between sizing that would affect the bass response. The external vent port appears to be a white resistive balanced armature filter damper. Since it is molded in, modding with a different damper is unlikely.

Premium detachable cabling of the HIDIZS MS5 is made from a mixture of 504 strands of 6N single crystal silver plated copper and 6N copper braided to form a total of 8 stands of wires sheathed in black environmentally friendly PVC giving it a shiny darker appearance with a sticky feeling.

The cable is weighty yet flexible and combined with the formed ear hooks stays firmly planted. The chin slider is for decoration, if it were open completely instead of having wire channels it would freely move, but it binds against the cable too much so I opted not to mess with it.

This is one area that is somewhat problematic as the weight combined with the aggressive ear hook deforms my ear and applies extra pressure. For longer listening sessions users will find it irritating. I wish they would have opted for something lighter, but still of the same quality. Consider replacing it.

With a plethora of tuning options between the included library of ear tips for Balanced, Bass and Vocals, the HIDIZS MS5 also includes three pairs of tuning nozzles screwed into a piece of aluminum plate with laser engraved text to help identify.

I would have preferred the color name included on the plate and adding a spot for the balanced pneumatic gold colored nozzles. At least it was a much more premium way to include them as opposed to in a plastic bag or attached to a piece of plastic like the Drop JVC HA-FDX1.

The replaceable pneumatic sound tuning filter- as HIDIZS refers to the nozzles – have a piece of open-celled foam in the balanced and bass pairs, while the silver treble colored ones have none. The red bass pair contains a higher density amount to cut back on treble letting the bass become slightly more prominent. For those who really like to tweak, you can experiment with your own materials such as cotton, gauze, other foams, etc. You might want to consider a little removal thread locker to prevent them from unscrewing and getting lost.

As I peered into the open cavity while changing these sound tuning nozzles, I can see 4 guided tube openings via a plastic insert. One of those tube openings includes a white colored resistive balanced armature damper used to tune and tame resonances of the balanced armatures.

It uses 3 different balanced armatures from Sonion, the E50DT for highs, 2389 (dual armature) for mid/highs, and the 17A003 for the lower midrange. The combined dual armature is how they count four. The 10mm Kevlar center cone attached by a liquid crystal surround dynamic takes over the low end.

The three different sets of eartips for the HIDIZS MS5 each serve for different purposes. The Vocal eartips have a shorter thicker stem and a wider opening to allow more sound through at a closer point to the exit and allow for placement closer to your eardrum if allowed by fitment.

The ones marked Bass and Balanced appear similar for stem and opening sizing, the only difference I detect is the black bass ear tips have a thicker outer shell to better retain shape and to minimize sound leakage.

What flagship IEM would not be complete without a protective carrying case, and the HIDIZS MS5 provides a roomy premium leather zippered case. Inside it is coated with a fleece material to prevent moisture build up. Plenty roomy, the mesh pocket can hold some of the accessories. It’s  large for a pants pocket, but fine in a coat or bag. It’s the same size as the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk carrying case.

SOUND

Tested primarily with the HIDIZS AP80 Pro-X , SMSL DO100/HO100/SU-9

Seems fitting to pair the HIDIZS MS5 with the HIDIZS AP80 Pro-X for excellent power output, however I also tested with the LG G8. One thing to consider is that this is a low impedance earphone spec’d at 5.3 ohms, it does dip further to ~4 ohms around 1khz. That might be hard for some devices to drive properly in a different sense as output impedance of the device can impact high frequency response roll-off.

The overall sound signature of the HIDIZS MS5 is balanced with medium levels of boosted bass and elevated pinna gain. For once I get to not call this a Harman tuning, as they notch out an area that can be sensitive to some around 4Khz, and also ease into the upper midrange pinna gain instead of a straight climb to the peak and keep it fairly level out to 9khz. For the bulk of my listening I selected the balanced ear tips and balanced nozzles.

The bass nozzles soften the treble giving a more relaxed and non-fatiguing listening session, but the bass is more dominant and fuller. The treble nozzles allow free flow of everything the Sonion balanced armatures have to offer and really bring orchestral works to life with their light and airy capabilities.

Bass is full and warm, extension reaches the bottom and feels centered to provide nice balance between mid-bass and sub-bass. They have similarly wonderfully tight and controlled bass as the Shozy Form 1.4, but with the sub-bass of the Blessing 2 Dusk. The elevation avoids sounding too boomy and coming from some recent sets that boosted only the lowest last octave that could present as thin sounding, the HIDIZS MS5 is anything but. The tapering off is gradual but not bleeding, blending with the Sonion BA well. For me it tapers off before vocals start sounding too muddy and honky, instead a little chesty. If I EQ out around 250Hz it sounds closer to the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk.

Vocals deliver all the nuances and never sound strained unless the recording was over-driven. I definitely recommend using the vocal ear tips, as the upper registers are tamed with the smaller bores. Since it eases into the treble, the vocals feel a bit pulled back. The lower mid-range upper mid-bass tends to pull forward the staging. It is noticeable when switching back and forth with the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk.

Sliding into the treble, the HIDIZS MS5 delivers all the nuances you expect out of a flagship. While it may not have the air like qualities of the 7HZ Timeless, it delivers a superbly brilliant upper end. Listening to Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love, you get a real sense of space as the drums sticks tap the edge of the drums, something the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk is also capable of.

One of my other favorite hybrids the Shozy Form 1.4 does not deliver that kind of technical ability to resolve that level of detail. I can really pick out the nuances of the different cymbal strikes, or the fluttering of the pads and levers opening and closing in a solo saxophone.

TECHNICALITIES

For classical fans or even acoustic rock fans, height information comes through excellent as I listen to Georgia Peach Acoustic Alchemy when the chimes in the beginning come in, the higher chimes propagate higher. The HIDIZS MS5 is a high resolution set without feeling over-blown or fatiguing sound wise. For those that find it to have too much presence might actually want to use the bass tuning filters.https://www.audioreviews.org/hidizs-ms5-review-2-review-ap/

When comparing the HIDIZS MS5 to the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk, they are nearly identically wonderful. The difference between the two becomes apparent in the staging. Since the HIDIZS MS5 has more upper mid-bass, the staging feels U shaped, with the extra bass pulling some instruments closer around the edges hence what I call U shape not to be confused with U shaped frequency tuning.

The Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk has a more even or straight position. As a result overall the HIDIZS MS5 sounds wide and forward, with depth front to back good, but overall the whole stage is closer.

Layering front to back is excellent with nothing ever feeling congested. Microdynamic detail retrieval is excellent. Nothing ever feels out of place. HIDIZS utilized excellent drivers and implemented the Sonion to their fullest ability. The multi-BA budgets do not even stand close, and I would hope not at this mid-tier pricing level ($150-500).

A HAPPY ENDING

The HIDZS MS5 Dark Angel swoops in and steals my attention away from my other favorites. The resolution and brilliance is superb. The use of the excellent Sonion balanced armatures combined with the fullness of the dynamic driver is a good match. The things some might not find appealing are the thicker lower midrange/upper midbass transition, forwardness of the stage, the heavy weight of the premium styled cable, and the bulkiness of the size.

Sometimes less is more, but overall I give it an A/B in tuning and an A- in technical abilities. One of my only favorites from HIDIZS. For those that prefer a diffuse field tuning from Etymotic or the Harman tuning, you will find these more energetic, but in my opinion in all the right places.

SPECIFICATIONS

GRAPHS

• Left vs Right
• Tuning filter comparison
• HIDIZS MS5 vs Shozy Form 1.4 vs Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk
• Impedance Plot

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About my measurements.

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Cons — Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite come with poor stock tips
– Thick nozzle can be an issue for some, alongside the ventless design
– Wooly, undefined bass
– Macrodynamic punch is severely lacking
– Lacking in energy and engagement factor

INTRODUCTION

Kiwi Ears had one of the “underground hits” of recent years in the form of Kiwi Ears Orchestra: a multi-BA offering that offered a smooth tuning and promised performance akin to the kilobuck mainstays.

While I never heard the original, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite, the brand’s latest offering, landed at my doorstep recently. The paper specs are impressive, especially once you consider the price. The frequency response graph looks great on paper.

Let’s see how much of that paper spec translates into real world performance.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Linsoul was kind enough to send me the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite for evaluation.

Sources used: Questyle QP2R, iFi Go Blu.
Price, while reviewed: $250. Can be bought from Linsoul.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The packaging is minimal but has all the necessary accessories.

The stock cable is very good – flexible/pliable and doesn’t tangle easily. The flexible ear-hooks are much better than those stiff, hard to manipulate ones you often find. Unfortunately, the stock tips are useless. There are 3 different kinds supplied, 3 pairs of each. Unfortunately none of them would provide a good seal and comfort.

In the end, I used Spinfit CP-100+ tips. The carrying case is good enough if a bit bland in design. Overall, apart from the tips, good accessories.

BUILD QUALITY

The 3D-printed, UV-cured resin shells of the Orchestra Lite have good consistency and give a dense feeling in the hand. There are some refractions inside the shells though some may consider them a design element. Nonetheless, overall shell quality is similar to Moondrop’s Blessing2, if not at a slightly higher level.

The backplate evokes a sense of depth, though the artwork itself is somewhat generic. There are no vents on the shell, making this a completely sealed design.

The nozzle has three bores, one for each frequency band (bass, mids, treble). More on this later. Unfortunately, the large size makes it difficult to fit some tips.

Finally, the recessed 2-pin ports complete the build tour. I think given the budget constraints, Kiwi Ears managed a good job here.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

Comfort is average due to the large nozzle size. Moreover, the ventless design creates some pneumatic pressure in the ear canal, resulting in added awkwardness. I’d recommend trying out the Orchestra Lite in person before purchase if possible to see if they fit your ears.

SOURCE AND EARTIPS

The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite are very easy to power, and should be driven well by most dongles. I used Spinfit CP-100+ tips, as the stock tips had poor seal and were a challenge to put on the thick nozzle.

DRIVER SETUP

Driver count on the Orchestra Lite is mighty impressive. A total of eight BA drivers are placed inside with triple crossover design. Two Knowles ‘sealed’ woofers with dampers in front take care of the bass, while four “custom BA” drivers take care of the mids, and two more of those take care of the highs.

Kiwi Ears went for a triple-tube design and all tubes have dampers in the sound path. You can also see the crossover board on the side. All in all, competent driver setup and the coherency should not be too big of an issue due to similar drivers being used across the board.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite have a smooth, relaxing “U”-shaped signature with somewhat darkened treble response.

The two Knowles woofers unfortunately do not sound that impressive. Bass lacks slam and authority. Bass notes almost feel “wooly”. Reverb is unusually slow (try Nariyeh Thanei by Siamese Youth to get a feel for that).

Mids, fortunately, fare much better. They sound good for the most part and avoid shout, even though at high volumes the shoutiness can creep through (as the bass does not have body and impact, upper mids become more prominent). String instruments have a slightly softer leading edge, which avoids some BA timbre at the cost of crispness.

Finally, we get to the treble which is inoffensive without being spectacular. The bass tuning is a bit too safe at times, lacking excitement and engagement. Guitar riffs lack energy, while cymbals and hi-hats sound over-dampened. Upper-treble is also almost absent, so resonances and decays are lost.

Soundstage is not spectacular but manages to sound fairly “open” without being congested. Imaging is good, falling slightly short of class leaders like the Blessing2 or Oxygen. Separation is also good and comparable to the best performers in this range.

Macrodynamic punch is severely lacking. Sudden bass drops feel hollow. Microdynamics are not so evident either.

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs AFUL Performer5

The AFUL Performer5 sport a hybrid design, with a single dynamic driver taking care of the lows and the mids and highs being handled by BA drivers.

I find the Performer5 to be more comfortable due to better pressure relief and less obtrusive nozzle design. The stock accessories are good on the Performer5 but I am not too keen on the stock cable. Your mileage may vary.

As for the sound, the Performer5 have slightly better bass response, though the dynamic driver is underwhelming in terms of slam and punch as well. Mids are similarly tuned on both but female vocals are more intimate and have better articulation on the Orchestra Lite.

The treble is where the Performer5 edge out the Orchestra Lite with better engagement and extension up top. However, staging and imaging are overall superior on the Orchestra Lite.

So in the end, the bass and treble performance are superior on the Performer5 and that alone should make the decision easier for many. However, those who need a more relaxing presentation with a better sense of atmosphere (due to superior staging and imaging) might find the Orchestra Lite more appealing. Just keep in mind that they would not excite you as much.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Overall, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite are not technical powerhouses. The bass definitely does not live up to expectations and might be the deal-breaker for some. Some EQ makes things better, but the fundamental issues (lack of slam and body) remains.

While the mids are tuned well and the sound has a certain calmness that might appeal to those who do not like infusion of energy, it might be too polite, too safe, and too smooth.

So, the Orchestra Lite are suitable for a niche audience with niche tuning preferences. I would highly recommend an audition to see if these fit your tastes before making a purchase since, for me, they are just bland, lacking in life and verve.

Ah well.

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

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The AFUL PERFORMER 5 is a technically innovative earphone that does not quite hold up to the the company-generated hype.

The AFUL Performer 5 was provided by HifiGo for my analysis – and I thank them for that. You can get it from HifiGo.

Introduction

It was only three months before this writeup that AFUL – coming seemingly out of nowhere – launched a gigantic promotional campaign and hype, presenting themselves as a a leading player in the earphone market. From 0 to 100 in a few seconds. To achieve this would be nothing short of sensational (Sennheiser have been at it since 1945).

We at audioreviews.org love dissecting claims and hype – and put the Performer 5 happily on our work bench. OK, ok, the name alone…we have heave heard the jokes about it already…it is apparently pronounced “A-foo”. L is silent. It means “prosperity and fortune” in Mandarin. Nothing wrong with that.

From AFUL’s self presentation:

Aful Acoustics has always targeted a strong and experienced acoustic R&D Team. They have adhered to the simple concept of “Only Real Progress in Technology can bring Tangible benefits to the Consumer”.

Four Years Ago, AFUL Acoustics was founded to bring a change to the HiFi Audio industry with class-leading IEMs and Headphones at pocket-friendly prices. After painstaking research by the team for over two years, Aful Acoustics matured the basic technology in 2020. Ever since then they have got several different technologies such as EnvisionTEC Medical-Grade 3D Printed Acoustic Tube Structure, 3D Air-Pressure Balanced Relief Technology, etc.

Aful Acoustics has always targeted innovative Acoustic Technologies to produce crisp, high-resolution sound quality with IEMs that outperform the competition by a huge margin. We have always aimed to design quality products that deliver high-end performance while coming at a mid-range price tag.

Source: HifiGo

To be fair, the Performer 5 does incorporate some good innovative technical ideas. KopiOkaya told me that the pressure-relief vent has similar principles to 64Audios ADEL, just that it is built into the shell design. They also seem to be serious about the coherence. Not often you see separate sub and mid-bass tubes, especially the coiled ones that tend to extend sub-bass rumble. Moondrop Blessing2 does it around $300, but not many others. 

Specifications AFUL Performer 5

Physical Things and Usability

In the box are the earpieces, cable, eartips, metal storage case, and paperwork. The shells are bulky but light and comfortable, and the isolation is good – with SpinFit CP145 eartips, the stock tips are too small for my teutonic ear canals.

The cable is pliable with sturdy metal connectors. Very good. Overall haptic and build are commensurate with the price tag.

Tonality and Technicalities

The AFUL Performer 5 was hyped as somewhat different sounding from the rest – and this is actually true. It offers a relaxed, laid back presentation with a mild BA timbre. Tuning is quite good but the technicalities are more in the category of a $100 earphone. The Seeaudio Yume comes to mind.

I always pick out the bass first in my listening sessions, which, unfortunately is the Performer 5’s weakest point: midbass is mushy and muffled to a point that my eardrums start ringing after a short while. And that, although it does not have a lot of kick. This lack of bottom-end focus may be compared to hitting a drum with a somewhat loose skin.

If the bass had more pizazz, this mush would be unbearable. Needless to say that the bass resolution is not satisfying, basslines are sloppy and lack composure. Extension into the sub-bass is average and there is not much rumble down there at all.

The soft midbass partially covers the vocals which are actually well presented. Note definition is good, note density is ok but not the fullest, vocals come across with a reasonably natural speed. Nothing shrill and there is also zero shoutiness (a new trend across the board). But I find the midrange somewhat splashy and fluffy. It lacks discipline.

Treble extension is also good with middling resolution. I find the cymbals a bit on the lean side and high violin notes somewhat muffled.

Timbre is as you expect from a “multi”, resolution is best in the midrange and poorest in the bass. In less bassy pieces, the midrange has lots of air, once bass sets in, it is getting muffled to various extents. Soundstage is average but can be narrowed by the bass smear.

Separation, layering, and headroom do hold up to its class.

Overall, the Performer 5 lacks cohesion and composure to justify its price. It could be more refined in its presentation.

There is no comparison to top notch $200-250 iems such as the JVC HA-FDX 1, which have much better tonal balance, tonal accuracy, and cohesion…to name but a few criteria…which add up to much more enjoyable listening experience.

Concluding Remarks

The AFUL Performer 5 is another example of an unjustified hype of a prematurely released product. You can evaluate this statement yourself: where is the Performer 5 three months later? While the R&D may justify its price, the result does not.

We are now waiting for the “Pro” model addressing the initial toothing issues. And, I am sure, it will be a good one. The early adopters as guinea pigs? That’s not how it should work – but unfortunately that’s how the game goes. Again and again.

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post AFUL PERFORMER 5 Review – Lost In Translation appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The (circa-2013) Sennheiser Momentum has a sleek, lightweight metal-and-leather design which affords better-than-expected isolation and excellent comfort. Very easily driven with just a mobile or a modest dongle, the Momentum hews very close to Sennheiser’s house sound—balanced and very detailed, with a neutral-to-slightly bright tonality and lean note texture.

Soundstage is wide but has limited height, and instruments are accurately placed, with lots of air between performers. There’s not a ton of subbass thump or depth, but midbass is extremely well-etched and quick, if a bit cool and lacking in body and warmth. Mids are bell-clear and high end deftly balances being very resolving without sounding too clinical—the Momentum have some toe-tapping drive and energy and avoid the flatness of more “reference-tuned” phones.

 All that said, while the Momentum remain composed and revealing on classical and other complex fare, they miss a bit of oomph on rock and heavier genres—like very good limited range speakers they nail the technicalities, but the lowest notes are missing.

These were originally $349, which was a stretch since comparably-priced open-backed models like Senn’s HD600/HD650 provide a more expansive, meatier (if less portable) take on the same basic signature. However, I now see the Momentum on Amazon for $129 (and used models for as low as $30 on Ebay), which is a screaming bargain for phones of this quality.

The Sony MDR 1A (originally $300, but easily found used for < a hundo)  look a bit generic but are very solidly-built and feel more durable than the Momentum. Although approximately the same weight as the Momentum, the Sony feel a bit heavier on your head and aren’t quite as comfortable. The Sony are also a bit less stable, which limits their utility for outside use. Isolation is below average and the cable is quite microphonic.

Soundwise, the Sony are the polar opposite of the more restrained, accurate Momentum—the Sony have a rich-textured, warm tonality with a giant, palpably physical bass presence. Soundstage is within-your-head but nicely rounded; imaging is okay but not as precise as the Senn.

Compared to the Senn, the Sony sound fuller and more analog, while the Momentum present more microdetail and high-end resolution, although the Sony do surprisingly well at reproducing guitar strings, drums and percussion. The massive low end is something of a mixed blessing for the Sony—it imparts an exciting, live-in-concert feel to uptempo genres, but can get boomy and distorted at higher volumes and tends to overshadow more delicate arrangements; if anything, amping adds to the chaos. Refinement isn’t the Sony’s strong suit—they’ll get the adrenalin pumping but will wear you out after an extended listen.

Generally speaking, the Senn and the Sony are complementary, with the former being better for critical listening and the latter being better at getting your freak on. Comparing them to good, comparably-priced Bluetooth phones, however, I’m struck by how much better both of these wired relics sound—less compressed and much clearer, without the characteristic artifacts and background noise of wireless models. If I didn’t need wireless functionality, I’d reach for the Momentum or the MDR-1A every time.

Looks like our democracy will survive until the next election cycle. So life is good.

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Headphone Reviews

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PRESS START

Welcome the $189 Moondrop Alice with pixelated fonts I get an eerie sense of being watched by an AI fembot out to seduce and destroy. She does have a cheerful peppy voice and ready to send high quality sounds to your ears. True Wireless Stereo (TWS) has been making progress but these feel next level. In case you are new to Moondrop, they continue to add to the growing list of well received products of the likes of Kato, Aria, Starlight, Kanas Pro, Blessing 2, and such.

When the Moondrop Alice were offered up all I knew was that they were a TWS wireless set with price tag set at $189. When I first popped them into my ears I was instantly awarded with Moondrop’s VDSF (Virtual Difuse Sound Field) sound and it was recognizably clean, clear and spacious sounding. It was not until more details came out that it became clear, these were Moondrop Katos unleashed.

Disclaimer: Set sent free to me from Shenzhenaudio, much appreciated but still free from mind control for now…. muhahaha!

SOUND

Test with LG G8 Hiby Player and IPhone 8

I am not kidding when I say the Moodrop Alice is a wireless Kato (sound only). The bass has the typical Moondrop softness that is accentuated by the bluetooth amplifier blunting the bottom end a bit and doesn’t give it full breathing room. That is something I feel happens on every bluetooth set I have tried most likely a result to conserve battery power.

As usual though you would not find any bass bleed into the mids. The midrange is pleasantly enhanced to the typical Harman curve that rides the fine edge of not too forward and not too recessed sounding. What lifts these above is their ability to give plenty of spaciousness to the instrumentation and vocals that give a better sense of realism.

The treble has nice lift for presence but not overly bright that they feel goosed in the upper treble avoiding unnatural airiness. Cymbals sound natural and ring true with great clean precision while flutes and strings have good loft.

TECHNICALITIES

The Moondrop Alice tackles instrument separation wonderfully and provides excellent resolution. They sound wider than deep, but still provide great depth. Pause on that for minute, because there is more to discuss about this. Volume is a tad limited, but I still found them faithfully loud enough to enjoy and probably take some years off my hearing. Isolation is below average, so combined with the lower than average sound output they loose a half a heart deduction.

VDSF+

Un-pause, so the Moondrop Alice have this feature called VDSF+ which didn’t seem like active noise control otherwise they would have said so. Upon listening to enabled I sensed a slight bass change and staging change. There was also a bit of treble coloration. After looking more into it, Moondrop added crossfeed or the act of inducing crosstalk (a little bit of the left signal goes to the right, and right goes to the left, delay it, level it down, some filtering-there are many ways to do it).

The concept for those that do not know is that in the non-headphone world our two ears create a bit of a timing difference heard from the same sound and filtered and bit due to blocking of our head. With headphones, this delayed mixing of sound signal is removed completely and you get that “in your head” experience.

The goal of crossfeed or VDSF+ in this case is to make it sound more “normal” and move the stage away from the imaginary line between your ears to further in front of your face. So it is a neat feature at the expense of a little comb filtering that mucks with the treble a bit. I think it is so subtle that I prefer it with the VDSF+ on, a slight bass boost and added staging realism.

COMPARISONS

Sony WF-1000XM3 ($60-80 used market/ $300 when new)

Sony makes great wireless products and can be in the same ballpark in terms of pricing compared to the Moondrop Alice. The WF-1000XM3 can be found for insanely low used pricing, but the XM4 version is closer in price currently. I bought the Sony WF-1000XM3 for 3 reasons, first was sound signature and technical abilities (app), second ANC, and third the battery can be replaced if you are handy.

The Sony app gives you control over EQ, active noise cancellation settings and transparent mode. This is why you buy the Sony. The Moondrop Alice on the other hand provides supreme sound quality better treble resolution and tonality, the Sony WF-1000XM3 have a V shaped signature making the treble sound enhanced only at the top end and do not bring out the micro nuances of say the triangle strikes in Pink Panther.

The Sony have a thicker midbass enhancement, while the Moondrop Alice is bit thinner here with more snap. The Moondrop Alice sound lighter and 3 dimensional with better layering, the Sony sound a little flat. Rock and Pop are favored on the Sony, while the Alice lean classical and jazz centric, however this does not mean you cannot use them for either or.

Drop Axel Grell ($150-200 Indirect comparison)

I have not had a chance to catch back up with Loomis who last reviewed the Drop Axel Grell, so I will have to refer back to my memory to compare against the Moondrop Alice. The Drop Axel Grell had a different bass profile centered on midbass, so given that the Sony sounds fuller than the Moondrop Alice, the Grell will further increase that gap with less controlled sub-bass region. The Alice will sound neutral in comparison.

The upper mids, treble follow the Harman curve similar to the Moondrop Alice, whereas the Sony has a warmer and treble knob boosted treble. The Grell seems to have a flat sounding midrange and the Alice will sound more dimensional. While the Grell’s treble was their best feature, I think the Alice is still hard to topple here.

One final nail in the coffin is the Moondrop Alice clearly have better battery management when sitting unused. They retain a charge just as well as my Sonys. The Grell seem to discharge and never enter a deep sleep mode like the others. I wonder if this is something that can be fixed with a firmware update.

DESIGN FEATURES

So why are the Moondrop Alice a wireless Kato? They use the same third generation U.L.T DLC (ultralight, diamond like coated) driver. Moondrop designed them around sound first, form second so the electronics in the shells were placed in position as to not interfere with their sound goals. The flat faceplates serve as an easy to use control surface and taking calls on them was simple and sounded good.

They paired quickly and easily with both my IPhone and Android and stay paired with both at the same time. This is handy because sometimes I listen to music on one phone, but get work calls on the other. No need to pull them out, I just take the call. The carrying case entertained my child with it’s magnetic flip top and additional cardboard protective cover. The Cardboard cover however makes it bulkier, I probably would skip it.

The battery life is great they claim about 8 hours + 40 more due the charge the case holds, taking 1.5 hours to fully charge the earphones. I have no reason to doubt this, and they stay charged unlike the Drop Axel Grell that annoying discharge just sitting there. It has 4 lights on the case to indicate charge level of the case taking 3 hours to charge up. To top it off, use the included USB-C cable (although no charger included) and it also offers wireless charging too when you place it standing in an upright position, not laying down.

The box was hard to slide the sleeve off but inside they give you a collectible anime artwork, the earphones, the case, the case cover and the S/M/L spring tips as well as the sticky feeling S/M/L tips. The Moondrop Alice are rather lightweight and fit ok, but they rely solely on the eartips to stay in place. The inclusion of the sticky feeling eartips are helpful in this regard. The were comfortable enough.

They lack sensors to turn them off if you take them out of your ears like the Sony WF-1000XM3, so they will keep playing music or just sit there turned on until you put them back in their charging case and close the lid. Controls include the following functions:

1. Voice prompt – 3 taps left or right earpiece
2. Play/Pause – 1 tap on left or right earpiece
3. Previous track – 2 taps left earpiece
4. Next track – 2 taps right earpiece
5. Answer or hangup call – 1 tap left or right
6. Refuse call – long press left or right
7. Toggle VSDF+ on/off – long press right or left

BONUS FEATURES

To unlock bonus features for the Moondrop Alice, the Moondrop Link app is essential. They have 10 different sound EQ presets that seem to be planned, I was unable to see them during testing. There is also a 10 band parametric EQ, but lots of apps already include an EQ of sorts.

Firmware updates are also done through this app. The firmware version I tested them with was 0.1.3, upon connecting with the app there was a version 0.1.9 that claimed upgraded sound, a version 1.2.0 that says reduced noise, but neither would update. Hopefully this gets sorted out, if something changes I will update my review to reflect.

I did take some calls through them and while I could hear my calls just fine, the microphone didn’t seem to make it easy for the person on the other end. I love that they can pair to 2 devices at once. I am a weirdo that typically hauls around a work phone and a secondary “music” phone. So while listening on the music phone, if a call comes into my work phone it pauses the music on the other device and I can take the call.

GAME OVER

I strongly recommend these to anyone that wants top quality sound first, and doesn’t need ANC. Moondrop dropped a boss level TWS into our laps and just upped the bar as usual. The only reason not to get a set is if you want ANC, or if you still want to accessorize with fancy cables, DAC’s and amplifiers then you have the Moondrop Kato instead. Or maybe you do not care for the Harman inspired Moondrop VDSF tuning model and need a bassy set.

Battery life is excellent, wireless charging is nice, they stayed paired without issue but just a reminder that as a headset they are not the best option. The app functionality is a bit freshmen, I would not buy it based on features that rely on the app, and talking into the mic, but if that is a deal breaker I would talk to Moondrop or stay tuned to the forums Head-fi, SBAF, etc for updates as people are eager to relay updates and fixes.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

• Earphones with U.L.T Dynamic driver and Qualcom 5151 Bluetooth 5.2 SoC
• Wireless Charging Case
• A Cardboard Case for your Case
• S/M/L Spring tips
• S/M/L Sticky Softears Brand Silicone tips
• Waifu Artwork Card
• Manual

SPECIFICATIONS Moondrop Alice

• Model: ALICE True Wireless Stereo
• Driver: 10mm U.L.T super-linear dynamic driver
• Diaphragm: 3rd generation DLC composite diaphragm
• Bluetooth version: 5.2
• Bluetooth protocol: A2DP/AVRCP/HFP/HSP
• Codec protocol: AAC/SBC/aptX Adaptive
• Charging plug: Type-C
• lmpedance: 32Ω±15%@1kHz
• Working distance: about 15m (barrier-free open environment)
• Input: 5V-0.5A
• Battery Life: about 8+40hours

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

Get it here from ShenzenAudio priced at $189 at time of publishing.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

The post Moondrop Alice TWS Review (1) – Level Up appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The Moondrop Stellaris is…hmmm…bright…

The Moondrop Stellaris were kindly supplied by SHENZENAUDIO for my analysis – and I thank them for that. You can get them from SHENZENAUDIO for currently around $100.

Introduction

Planar-magnetic earphones came into fashion (again) when a YouTube salesman hyped the $220 7Hz Timeless per spaceship into a starfield (excuse the pun) not even a year ago (setting the scene to cash in on a “collab” with the next release of this technology). The Timeless feature a driver that had been dismissed by major manufacturers a couple of years earlier. Admittedly, this model was good enough for co-bloggers Biodegraded and Durwood to purchase one :).

LETSHUOER were the next company to pick up on this technology with their $135 S12, which likely features the same driver as the 7Hz Timeless, but with a different tuning. I compared both models in this article.

What followed was “a race for space”. Many manufacturers wanted to have a piece of the cake, which resulted in “planar wars”, artificially constructed by another bunch of attention-seeking YouTubers. I only got part of the tail end of it with the $115 TINHIFI P1 Max and the $199 Dunu Talos. More planar-magnetics are flooding the market as we speak (I am eagerly awaiting the Akoustyx S6 from California).

In the past, planar-magnetic earphones had been overpriced and underperforming. Not anymore…which was actually a good thing about the 7Hz Timeless hype.

But what makes a planar-magnetic earphone distinct? First, the driver digs deep down, it has a tight bass response, low distortion, it is easy to drive, has a great imaging and a deep stage.

On the downside, a planar-magnetic earphone may lack slam, may be rather lean in the lower midrange, and be bright (“more lean than bright”), which may contribute to midrange clarity but exposes a lack of richness. Treble may be robotic through an overly fast note decay. Many planar magnetic iems do not do a good job in the reproduction of acoustic sets (“classical music”) – too artificial sounding.

Prices have come down even further since the release of the 7Hz Timeless. Moondrop offer the Stellaris at $109.99, on par with their Starfield and between their $79.99 Aria and their $189.99 Kato (all single DDs). The Aria is generally considered to be one of the best iems below $100, and it outclasses the Starfield. Therefore, Moondrop appears to create their own in-house competition in search of the class leader.

Who are Moondrop? They are one of the world’s most innovative earphone companies out of Chengdu, Sichuan, a city I know well and love. We “audioreviewers” have analyzed many of the company’s models (see below).

Specifications Moondrop Stellaris

Physical Things and Usability

The Moondrop Stellaris was costmetically modelled after the Moondrop Starfield. Both share the same coating with its characteristic luminous bluestone that shimmer…and chip if abused (no chipping on mine so far).

But what’s different is that the Moondrop Stellaris is big. Big and heavy earpieces…little monsters…ouch…but with long nozzles, good for my ears. The earpieces need to be deeply inserted into my ears and I wished today’s generations of planars were as small as, let’s say, the current Sennheiser single-DD iems.

So if you do this to your ears, you’d expect some reward, which would be sound quality. However…

Tonality and Technicalities

The Stellaris are tuned according to Moondrop’s own VDSF (Virtual Diffuse Sound Field) target response, the company’s version of the Harman target. You find more about this on Stellaris’ product page. They have their low-end boost in the sub-bass (rather than the mid-bass) for a dryer bass response and well extended treble. The midrange is a bit odd with a large spike at 2.5 kHz.

Other than that – as in so many other cases – the graph sells us little about the IEM’s sound. The Stellaris’ overall signature is uneven: warm at the bottom and bright on top.

Let’s face it, the Stellaris are most of all bright, very bright. Bright right up to the uppermost registers. Cymbals and hats are dancing arround my eardrums, the bass is partially swallowed and the vocals are somewhat honky. Well, that monstrous pinna gain between 1 and 2.5 kHz does not help either.

The signature is unbalanced, which throws the Stellaris out of the orbit of my sonic enjoyment. This iem lacks cohesion. So much for the general validity of target response curves.

Other than that, some of the individual aspects are not bad. For example, the bass is reasonably deep reaching and somewhat controlled. A bit dry, perhaps, as it peaks towards the bottom end. Punch is decent and reasonably well dosed.

The lower midrange is…weird…voices are pointy and lean…nasal that is, and the opposite of rich and full. They are so thin that even the sub-bass kick overshadows them. Well, and then there is this mess at the top end.

Technically, the Stellaris are capable: big stage, good midrange clarity, decent imaging, but overall they fall easily behind the likes of the LETSCHUOER S12 and TINHIFI P1 Max – and, if you go up to $200, the Dunu Talos. Hence no reason to discuss them further.

Concluding Remarks

The Moondrop Stellaris are a disappointment to my senses: they are bulky in my ears and uneven sounding. They simply lack soul despite their technical prowess…and are therefore a great advertisement for the $79 Moondrop Aria, which remains one of the best iems in the $100 area.

Get the Aria instead.

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post Moondrop Stellaris Review – Champagne Supernova appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — Sub-bass has softened impact, might be an issue for those expecting robust bass
– Truthear Zero has thin, lifeless lower-midrange
– Scooped mid-bass region hurts impact of snare hits and thins out baritone vocals
– Dark, grainy treble
– Upper-mid shout may sound more pronounced due to lack of treble presence
– Middling technical performance

INTRODUCTION

Reviewer collaborations are all the rage now. At the beginning, it was more of a novelty than a marketing shtick. At present, it’s rarer to not see a “tuned by X influencer” tag instead.

Truthear is a relatively new brand, but they chose to collaborate with Crinacle for their very first mainstream offering. Crin has been tuning IEMs for a while, and some of them have been quite popular e.g. the Blessing2 Dusk. Truthear Zero is the latest in the line of Crinacle-tuned IEMs and has a rather unique dual-driver setup where one driver acts as a true “woofer”.

Does the novel driver setup and Crinacle’s signature tuning manage to elevate the Zero above the rest of the competition? Or is another flavor-of-the-week that will soon have the spotlight stolen? Let’s find out.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. ShenzhenAudio was kind enough to send me the Truthear X Crinacle Zero for evaluation.

Source used: Questyle CMA-400i
Price, while reviewed: $50.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The packaging of the Truthear Zero has the trendy “waifu” cover art. In fact, the unit I received also came with an acrylic replica of the pictured character, named “Virgo”.

Otaku-fanservice aside, we also get 6 pairs of silicone eartips (2 types), 1 pair of foam tips, and a nice carrying case. The stock cable is good for the price, though the memory hook is stiff. The carrying case looks and feels nice, but offers little protection.

BUILD QUALITY

The entire shell is made out of resin with a glittery faceplate. I quite like the hue of blue on the Truthear Zero.

There is one vent near the 2-pin connector, which are recessed thankfully. Crossover circuit can also be seen near the connectors. While the build is generally good, the shells are smudge prone and slippery. So keep a cleaning cloth handy.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

The Truthear Zero are very comfortable due to their pseudo-custom shape, and they offer good isolation.

SOURCE AND EARTIPS

The IEMs were tested with stock cable and eartips. Questyle CMA-400i was used as a source. The Truthear Zero is fairly easy to drive with any budget dongle.

DRIVER SETUP

Truthear Zero uses two dynamic drivers in an asymmetric orientation: one near the nozzle (tweeter) and the woofer is closer to the center of the shell.

The larger 10mm “woofer” uses an LCP diaphragm with a PU suspension. The smaller “tweeter” clocks in at 7.8mm, and while the diaphragm and suspension material remains same, the voice coil is changed to a lighter CCAW material.

The crossover circuit acts almost as a low-pass filter with the low-frequencies being solely handled by the woofer, and the tweeter having no response in sub-bass frequencies.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

Truthear Zero has a near-Harman 2019-esque frequency response. This essentially means a “clean boost” of sub-bass from 200Hz downwards, and an aggressive rise to the upper-mids from the low-mid region.

Also, this leads to a strange hollowness in the mid-bass region, something “mid-bass bad” crowd will probably try to pass off as a positive, but it is not often the case.

Speaking of bass, the Truthear Zero has a detached sounding sub-bass akin to a 2.1 speaker setup. This is perhaps the intended tuning decision. Sub-bass has good density and dominates the scene in many electronic and live tracks. However, there is a softness to the sub-bass that makes it sound more polite than one would expect. Sub-bass rumble is not the strongest either.

Mid-bass is utterly devoid of body and slam. The bass is thus solely defined by the sub-bass emphasis near 50Hz. As a result of mid-bass hollowness and a near 12dB rise in the upper-mids, midrange is dominated by the upper-registers.

Snare hits lack body, baritone vocals sound thin, soaring male vocals get screechy and strained. Female vocals in bass-light tracks veer towards shoutiness.

Add to that the dark treble, which lacks sparkle and extension. As a result upper-mids gain further focus. Needless to say that this kind of tuning did not work well with my metal/rock focused library, and the occasional acoustic tracks and singer/songwriter pieces were marred by the shoutiness in the upper-mids.

Staging is average, imaging is mostly left and right. Not a technical tour-de-force in those regards. Layering is surprisingly good though, probably one of the strengths here. Overall resolution is middling.

Microdynamics are good, while macrodynamic punch is lacking due to the lack of mid-bass and dark mid and upper-treble.

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Final E3000

Final E3000 has a more physical, impactful bass. They have superior male vocals in comparison but female vocals are noticeably more laid back than the Truthear Zero.

E3000 also has better treble definition and extension, wider staging and far superior imaging. The areas where the Truthear Zero trounce the E3000 are: build, vocal clarity, and far simpler amplification needs. E3000 need a good source to shine, which adds to the cost.

vs BLON BL-05S

Compared to the Truthear Zero, BL-05S lack bass impact and rumble. Bass is in fact the weakest aspect of the BL-05S.

Things get very different as we move upward the frequencies, with the BL-05S being far more resolving in treble and mids. Imaging and separation are superior on the BLON as well.

One caveat of the BL-05S is that they need cable and tip change, whereas Truthear Zero is good to go in stock form. If you need a more technically accomplished pair under $50, BL-05S will be a better pick.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Truthear Zero aces the frequency response graph game. If you primarily base your purchase decisions on a pair of IEMs hitting a specific target, the Truthear Zero will be right up your alley. Also, those preferring Harman-ish tuning should be happy with the tuning here.

Unfortunately for me, most rock, metal, and pop songs sound odd and lack the body and density I expect, especially if the vocalist is male. The Zero fare better in instrumentals and female vocal based tracks, but there are better options in this price range if those are your priorities.

In the end, the driver configuration is the most interesting aspect of the Truthear Zero, and there is nothing wrong with that. They just do not stand out enough in terms of technicalities, and the shouty vocals followed by dark treble doesn’t make things better.

I hope Truthear reigns down the upper-mids and focuses on refining the treble on the next release, and if a dose of mid-bass is added with that – color me interested.

MY VERDICT

3/5
Unique driver combination marred by a sheer lack of technicalities.

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DISCLAIMER

Get it from Shenzhen Audio

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post Truthear X Crinacle Zero Review – The Hype And The Aftermath appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — Thin lower mids
– Upper-midrange glare
– BA timbre

INTRODUCTION

Those who have been following the Chi-Fi scene for a while would surely have come across Rose as a brand, and their penchant of cramming sizeable amount of drivers in an inconspicuously tiny shell.

The Rose QT9 MK2S is no different, and they sport a 1DD + 4BA configuration in a shell that’s small enough to sleep while wearing. In terms of driver config, Rose Technics competes well with the peers, but that alone does not ensure success in this cut-throat market.

Let’s see if the QT9 MK2S can carve a spot for themselves in the hyper-competitive mid-range IEM space.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Rose Technics was kind enough to send me the QT9 Mk2s for evaluation.

Sources used: Sony NW-A55, Questyle CMA-400i
Price, while reviewed: $250. Can be bought from HiFiGo.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

Rose supplies two hard-shell cases in the QT9 mk2S packaging, with one containing accessories and the other containing the IEMs and the cable. The packaging itself is fairly minimal and compact.

Supplied accessories include: 4 pair of silicone tips including 1 pair of double-flange tips, 1 mmcx removal tool, extra nozzle filters, and a quarter-inch adapter. The cable has a fabric sheath and 6N OCC copper core. Not the best in terms of ergonomics, but at least the core config with 6N OCC copper seems nice on paper.

BUILD QUALITY

Rose went for a pseudo-custom fit design with the QT9 MK2S.

The transparent resin-shell has a metal faceplate with Rose logo on it. There are three vents in total. One vent near the mmcx connector, and two more vents underneath the Rose logo on the faceplate. This heavily vented design allows the dynamic driver to move more air than a sealed design.

The mmcx connectors are fairly robust, though the IEMs would spin if rotated with some pressure. I did not notice any rattling or looseness in connection. The resin shell is also free from bubbles and noticeable imperfections, though I have seen better finishes on more expensive IEMs.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

The low-profile is perfect for those who like to sleep wearing their IEMs, though that is something I do not recommend for safety reasons. The IEMs can be too small for large ears though, so you may have trouble finding a good seal if your ear-canals are large.

SOURCE AND EARTIPS

Most of the review was completed while pairing with the Questyle CMA-400i. Sony NW-A55 was used when listening to the QT9 MK2S on the go, alongside the stock cable and Spinfit W1 tips.

DRIVER SETUP

Rose combined a 10mm dynamic driver with Knowles FK30018 and FK30019 dual-BA drivers. The BAs have Knowles dampers within the internal tubing, so kudos to Rose for properly implementing these BA drivers.

The dynamic driver also has over 1Tesla of magnetic flux density, which basically translates to better sense of bass slam and impact (when tuned as such).

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

The general sound signature of the QT9 MK2S can be described as mildly V-shaped, with thinned out lower-mids, boosted sub-bass, and extra focus on upper-mids and lower-treble.

The thin lower-mids get slightly veiled by the decaying sub-bass notes, making this the weakest spot of the QT9 MK2S’ tuning. The bass itself has nice body and rumble, and should satisfy those who need extra bass “oomph”. Mid-bass texture is somewhat lacking, but makes up for that with noticeable punch.

The upper-mids are mostly within control, though the subsequent 6kHz peak makes them sound strained in higher-pitched vocals, especially in tracks with less-than-ideal mastering. The lower treble peak also caused some fatigue for me in long listening sessions, as I am particularly sensitive to that region. Your mileage may vary.

Upper treble is characterized by a small bump near 13kHz and later some more emphasis near 15kHz. Not the most airy-sounding IEMs in this price bracket, but cymbal hits resonate longer than on IEMs with poor extension.

Imaging was precise for the most part, though lateral imaging left something to be desired. Stage width and depth was above-average, but falls behind category leaders.

Macrodynamic punch was good, while microdynamics were about average. General resolution is somewhat hampered by that clouded lower-mids, but in energetic tracks you can pick out most of the subtleties in the recording.

SELECT COMPARISONS

The Moondrop Blessing2 costs slightly more than the QT9 MK2S and comes with a similar 1DD + 4BA config. Moondrop opts for a paper-cone diaphragm vs the LCP diaphragm on the Rose IEMs.

In terms of build, the Blessing2 is “chunky” and can cause fit issues and discomfort for those with smaller ears, whereas the Rose will cater well to those with small ears. I’d say both have similar build quality. Moondrop has a more elaborate internal structure with the Blessing2, while Rose went for a simpler venting mechanism for the dynamic driver.

In terms of sound, bass is nimbler on the Blessing2 with less impact and sense of rumble. QT9 MK2S give a more palpable sense of rumble with better slam. Lower-midrange is thin on the Blessing2 as well, but doesn’t get as clouded as the QT9 MK2S due to more conservative sub-bass boost.

Upper-mids are even more prominent on the Blessing2 and brings vocals a lot closer to the listener. Fortunately, shoutiness is mostly avoided barring the most intense of high-pitched vocals. Lower-treble is where the differences become more apparent again, with the QT9 MK2S having less sparkle in treble due to the dip between 4-5kHz.

Upper-treble is somewhat reserved on both, but I think the QT9 MK2S slightly edges out the Blessing2 here. Staging is slightly wider and deeper on the QT9 MK2S, while the Blessing2 have more precise imaging with accurate positional cues. General resolution is also better on the Blessing2.

For the extra bucks, Blessing2 indeed out-resolve the QT9 MK2S. The Rose IEMs strike back with a more physical bass response and more comfortable fit. If you find the fit of the Blessing2 an issue and need a more robust bass response, the QT9 MK2S are viable alternatives.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Rose QT9 MK2S is a solid offering and gets most of the tuning right. The treble tuning may be a miss for those with extreme sensitivity in that region, and the fit might be challenging for those with larger ears. Other than those – you get one of the smallest 5-driver hybrid IEMs with good bass and generally competitive resolving capabilities.

In the larger scheme of things, the lack of marketing and Rose’s relative silence in recent years might be a bigger challenge, as new IEMs come up almost every other week and it’s difficult to filter out that noise for potential buyers. That being said, the QT9 MK2S is a nice reboot for Rose as a brand, and I look forward to their future releases that address the minor niggles.

MY VERDICT

3.5/5

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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

The post Rose QT9 MK2S Review (2) – Something Different appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — Supplied Spring tips are not the best match for CHU as they attenuate treble
– Mids can sound shouty at times
– Technicalities expose the cheap price tag
– Shell paint is prone to chipping off

INTRODUCTION

Moondrop’s last budget offering, the Quarks, left me unimpressed. The only thing those had going for them: price-tag. The neutral-ish tuning was too dry-sounding and the cheap build did not inspire confidence for long-term use.

Enter Moondrop CHU, their latest budget offering. Priced slightly higher than the Quarks, the CHU have far better build and accessories. The tuning, at least on paper (i.e. graph), looks closer to Moondrop’s VDSF target.

All good news so far, but how do they perform in real life? Let’s delve deeper.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Hifigo was kind enough to send me the CHU for evaluation.

Sources used: Questyle CMA-400i
Price, while reviewed: $20. Can be bought from HiFiGo.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The CHU come in a rather fancy packaging with Moondrop’s signature anime-artwork on top. Fortunately the fanciness do not stop there, as these come with Moondrop’s Spring tips bundled. These tips cost more than half the price of the CHU if purchased separately, so the value proposition is high here.

There are a pair of ear-hooks which add extra strain relief to the cable while helping in over-ear fit. You also get a carrying pouch inside but it’s rather horrible. It offers no protection and is made of a paper-like material that I don’t think will last long. Something’s gotta give, I guess.

BUILD QUALITY

The metal shell of the CHU is exquisitely machined. The fit and finish here is as good as the more expensive Aria. In fact, the CHU have similarly “baked” paintjob on the shell, and similar golden design accents. The two vents on the inner-side of the IEMs also have similar position, with one being placed near the nozzle and another slightly higher up in the shell.

The biggest point of contention for many would be the fixed cable. The good news here is that the cable has ample strain reliefs near the jack and shell, and the sheathing is not too stiff. As a result, you won’t get many kinks and untangling the cable won’t be too difficult. If used carefully, I expect the CHU to last a while.

My only gripe would be the lack of strain relief near the Y-split. A cost-cutting measure perhaps that could be avoided. Another issue which is sort of Moondrop specific: the paint job. These tend to wear and chip-off over time.

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

The CHU are very comfortable once worn. Isolation is fairly good, though you’ll need foam tips for best isolation. Do note that the supplied Spring tips are smaller than usual sizes, so you’ll have to choose “L” size if you usually use “M” size on other tips, e.g. Spinfits.

SOURCE AND EARTIPS

For this review, I mostly used the Questyle CMA-400i which is extremely overkill for such easy-to-drive (18 ohms, 104 dB/mW) IEMs.

As for eartips, this is where we run into some strangeness. As the supplied tips (and being fairly expensive), the Spring tips should be absolutely perfect for CHU. However, that’s not the case. The Spring tips attenuate the entire treble region noticeably, resulting in a smoother but less dynamic presentation.

As a result, for this review I chose the Spinfit CP-100+ tips. Even with the added cost of third-party tips I think the CHU are great value, so this small addition won’t change my final rating much.

MOONDROP CHU DRIVER SETUP

Moondrop has used a 10mm Nano-crystal coating composite Titanium-Coated Diaphragm in the CHU. In plain terms, there is a PET driver with perhaps a thin coating of Titanium. Overall, nothing spectacular and expected for the price-tag.

The acoustic chamber design is more interesting as the CHU use a similar system to Aria with two front-facing vents that equalize both the front and back-side air-pressure. As a result, driver control is easier to ascertain.

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

Moondrop CHU have a “sub-bass-boosted neutral” tuning. Moondrop calls it their VDSF target and higher-tier IEMs like the Blessing2 and Aria have similar target response.

Having the same graph does not mean that the CHU sounds the same as Blessing2 or the Aria. There are noticeable differences in the technicalities and presentation that set these three IEMs apart.

In terms of bass response, the CHU do reach as low as 30Hz, but the rumble is faint. Bass lacks physicality and doesn’t have the mid-bass punch or sub-bass slam you get from better drivers. Mid-bass notes are not the most textured, but CHU do a better job here than many of their peers. Bass speed is average, but again – not expecting miracles here.

The one thing that I like about the bass is that it doesn’t bleed into the mids. Even then, in tracks with a lot of bass undertones you will miss a lot of the notes. The driver is just not capable enough for that kind of workload.

Speaking of the mids, the lower-mids could do with a bit of body as I think baritone vocals lack some of their signature heft. This is somewhat compounded by the nearly 10dB of rise to the upper-mids. Fortunately, the rise is not too drastic and only in certain songs do you hear hint of shoutiness, e.g. Colbie Caillat’s Magic. Nonetheless, the lower-mids never get the heft and weight I would consider “ideal”, so there’s that. Easily fixed with slight EQ though.

The treble response will probably divide the audiences. Those who prefer a bit more presence-region “bite” will be disappointed as the Spring tips smooth those out. This hampers resonances and upper-harmonic, and most noticeably kills the dynamics. The fix is simple: use other tips like Final E-type or Spinfit CP-100+. The graph shows how the Spring tips reduce the frequencies between 4-8kHz by 3dB or so. Upper-treble is also hurt but those measurements aren’t reliable.

General resolution is middling in the grand scheme of things, but for $20 only very few IEMs can claim better performance, and those who actually resolve more have other tonal oddities. Soundstage has decent height but lacks the width and depth of higher-tier IEMs. Imaging is mostly left and right but I don’t want to nitpick here because, again, price.

Dynamics is another area where CHU can perform better even for the asking price. With the changed tips, I find them to have better macrodynamic punch than stock form but the microdynamics are mostly average. Overall, technically the CHU fail to impress as much as they do with their tuning.

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Moondrop Quarks

The Quarks are inferior in every single aspect. I can’t find a single area where they excel over the CHU, sadly.

vs Final E1000

I consider the Final E1000 more of a CHU competitor than anything else under $50. They have a similarly neutral-ish tuning and come bundled with the excellent E-type tips.

The bass on the E1000 roll-off earlier than CHU but has better mid-bass texture. Midrange is where Final knocks it off the park with the E1000 having a neutral-yet-engaging tuning without a hint of dryness. Lower-mids have adequate weight and upper-mids are smooth, articulate, and devoid of shout or shrill.

Treble also has slightly more energy and cymbal hits are easier to identify on the E1000. They also have some stage depth and slightly better imaging. However, the E1000 have availability issues and the price is at times higher than the suggested $25.

Depending on availability and price, I would pick the E1000 over the CHU if they cost less than $30. Other than that, with an increased budget, I’ll probably go for the Final E3000 or BLON BL-05S, provided an adequate source is present. However both of those IEMs cost more than twice the price of CHU so there is that consideration.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The TL;DR version of this review would be: “I recommend the CHU if you only have $20 to spend and are willing to shell out for a pair of third-party tips, or like the sound with stock tips”.

The CHU have familiar failings of the budget realm, namely a lack of technical chops especially in perceived stage and imaging, and Moondrop’s VDSF target does not really fit well if the driver is not fast or resolving enough.

However, looking at the competition with their bass or treble-heavy offerings, CHU are pretty much uncontested in the under $20 price-bracket, and deserves the recommendation.

MY VERDICT

4/5

Good tuning meets average technicalities, and the end-product is more than decent.

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

Get it from HiFiGo and official Moondrop Store

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

The post Moondrop CHU Review (1) – A Budget Benchmark appeared first on Music For The Masses.

This article has had 151,367 views as of 2023-12-28.

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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Cons — Availability of Spinfit tips can be a bit spotty
– Some experimentation required

INTRODUCTION

Third-party eartips are one of those things that you end up with a large collection of as you fall deeper into audiophilia. The reason is quite simple: universal earphones (i.e. non-custom IEMs) require fiddling with the tips more often than not. Moreover, eartips are just about the cheapest (and often most reproducible) way of tuning an earphone. So we all end up with boxes of eartips of our own, sooner or later.

Spinfit have been making eartips for a while now, and their claim-to-fame is the name-sake “swivel” mechanism that rotates the top of the inner-stem. This in turn helps to achieve a deeper, more secure seal as the top of the tip (along with the sound-tube) literally bends to get closer to the inner-ear.

In this round-up, we shall explore how well this mechanism works across a variety of IEMs. Models to be evaluated: Spinfit CP-100, CP-100+, CP-145, CP-145 (medical-grade silicone), CP-240, CP-360, CP-500, and the CP-800. The only two in-production models that I don’t have with me are the CP-155 (I don’t have a large-nozzle IEM at the moment) and the Airpod-specific CP-1025 (I don’t have an Airpod). With that out of the way, let’s head right in.

Update [06-02-2023]: Guide updated with impressions about Spinfit W1.

Note: The Spinfit CP-100 and the CP-500 are units I purchased myself. Rest were sent in by Spinfits themselves for evaluation. A huge shout-out to them. You can check out there entire catalogue of eartips here.

GENERAL BUILD QUALITY

All of the Spinfit eartips share some similarities in terms of build. They have a colored stem and the outer material is medical/food grade silicone. Each tips also has a depression/joint around the top of the internal sound bore. This joint allows the top of the tip to swivel 360 degrees around inside the ear-canal and (ideally) move past the bends in the ear-canal.

In all cases the internal stem is made of a stiffer material than the eartips themselves, though the stiffness varies depending on model. Now, let’s get into the details of individual models. For a more thorough look into the various dimensions of the tips themselves, please check out co-blogger Jürgen’s take on the Spinfit eartips.

SINGLE-FLANGE SPINFIT EARTIPS

CP-100/CP-100+

The Spinfit CP-100 is probably the most popular Spinfit eartips around. They are also the most widely available one. The original CP-100 model had a fairly stiff, color-coded stem (with color changing upon size) and the outer material was also fairly stiff. This model suited a number of IEMs especially those with a shallow nozzle (e.g. Dunu Luna, pictured below). The CP-100 was pretty much a utilitarian eartip, as in it would suit most models without affecting the FR too much or causing discomfort. I personally found the surface of the tip to be somewhat itchy after long-term use, and the stiffer outer layer didn’t have the best grip with the inner-ear wall.

Thus, we enter the Spinfit CP-100+. The new variant (which shall be released on Amazon soon) addresses my key complaint with the original CP-100: the stiffness and feel of the silicone. The new material is more supple and grips better. Most of all: the itchiness after long sessions is gone completely. In terms of ergonomics, this renders the CP-100 irrelevant.

Some suggested pairings for these tips: Moondrop Aria, Moondrop Starfield, Dunu Luna, Meze 12 Classics V2, Shozy Form 1.1, BLON BL-03/BL-05S

CP-145/CP-145 (refresh)

These are currently my favorite Spinfit tips. They are the most comfortable in Spinfit’s lineup along with the CP-100+ and pairs well with most IEMs with the given nozzle size (~4.5mm). Usually the bass seem to get tighter with these tips on and in some IEMs I’ve also experienced a perceived expansion of soundstage. The older CP-145 has a more supple, grippier texture on the outside whereas the new, medical-grade silicone version has a more coarse texture and has slightly worse seal. The choice between older and the newer CP-145 isn’t as straightforward as they both perform very similarly and are equally comfortable. Whichever you get, however, you shall find them stellar.

Some suggested pairings for these tips: Moondrop Blessing2/Aria/Starfield, 64Audio U12t, Final A8000, Dunu Luna, Reecho Insects Awaken

CP-360

The Spinfit CP-360 are specialist eartips meant to be used with TWS earphones. If you’re having trouble getting a fit with the stock tips that came with your earbud, give these a shot. The flange material is soft silicone and it’s very comfortable to wear due to the nozzle material not being too stiff. Isolation is also top-notch. Generally a good tip to have in your collection if you are into TWS earphones.

Some suggested pairings for these tips: Samsung Galaxy Buds/Buds Plus/Buds Pro, FIIL T1XS, Lypertek Tevi

CP-500

The most interesting offering in Spinfit’s entire lineup has to be the CP-500. It has a larger bore diameter (~5.5mm) and is meant for large nozzle IEMs that require a wide bore to work best. However, I have found them to work on slightly smaller bore IEMs too. I purchased the CP-500 initially to use with the Final E5000 (as stock E-type black tips have too much mid-bass). The CP-500 was the only tip available at that time for final’s E-series IEMs thus I pulled the trigger. Ironically, I ended up using the CP-500 on IEMs other than the Final E-type, most notably Dunu Zen and the IMR R1 Zenith. The CP-500 with Dunu Zen, specifically, have an incredible pairing that elevates the (already great) Zen to new heights. The difference between the Zen + CP-500 and other tips were far too noticeable.

That preamble aside, the CP-500 has a soft flange along with a similarly soft bore. The flange also has a somewhat oily texture to it, resulting in a fit that’s not the most secure and requires a bit of a deeper insertion. It’s a very comfortable eartip but isolation is worse than the CP-100/145/360. This is an eartip I’d recommend if you’re someone who’s into “tip-rolling” (as in, experimenting with various eartips). The CP-500 provides interesting results with many IEMs.

Some suggested pairings for these tips: Final E4000/E5000/E1000, Dunu Zen (best pairing for me), JVC FX-700, JVC FW-10000

CP-800

The Spinfit CP-800 is a specialized eartip meant for using exclusively with narrow-bore IEMs like the Shure, Etymotic ones. In case of Etymotic ER2XR this provides an interesting alternative to the stock triple/double-flange tips. The CP-800 has about the same bass and midrange rendition so those who find the stock triple/dual flange tips on Etymotics intrusive might find the CP-800 far more comfortable. I would recommend going for a smaller size than what you usually use with these tips (so if you usually need M, go for S). A size smaller will help with deeper fit. Sadly on the ER2XR at least, the CP-800 makes the treble roll-off earlier than the dual/triple flange tips. If you need more treble sparkle, the CP-800 might let you down on those IEMs. Shure IEMs like SE-215 worked just as well as the Shure Olive tips, however, with slightly improved fit.

Some suggested pairings for these tips: Etymotic ER2XR/ER4XR, Shure SE215/SE846.

W1

The Spinfit W1 is good for IEMs with large and heavy shells. The core of the stem has a ribbed pattern, which deforms less than the usual Spinfits. As such, even with deep fit, the nozzle retains a relatively straight sound path.

They also tend to isolate better due to grippier texture. I think this is how Azla Xelastecs should have been, but couldn’t be due to a lof of other issues.

The one nitpick I have with the W1 is that you must buy it in packs of three, with all three different sizes. At least that’s the case for the time being.

If you don’t own heavy IEMs then you can stick with CP-145. But if you have large, multi-driver IEMs then the W1 is a must try.

DOUBLE-FLANGE SPINFIT EARTIPS

CP-240

The Spinfit CP-240 is their only dual-flange offering. Usually dual-flange tips offer a deeper seal along with improved isolation. The CP-240, however, is a strange case. Due to the larger gap between the swiveling part on top and the second flange below, the seal breaks inside the ear canal and may lead to a loss of isolation. Moreover, the bass response lightens up a lot as a result. This might help if you want to tone the bass down on some IEMs but for me this particular tip didn’t really have a permanent place on any of the IEMs I’ve tried them on. The CP-240 also comes with adapters that you can slot inside the bore to reduce bore size and use narrow-bore IEMs like Etymotic/Westone/Shure.

Some suggested pairings for these tips: Westone, Shure, Etymotic IEMs with adapter, Meze 12 Classics V2 without adapter.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Writing about eartips can be confusing since it’s such a personal thing after all. This article is not meant to be taken as an absolute guide, rather a primer into what you might expect from the several Spinfit offerings. In the end, I can only speak from my personal experience along with the feedback I’ve gathered over time from other experienced users.

The Spinfit offerings are a must-have if you’re into collecting IEMs and love to experiment with several eartips. If I had to choose one SpinFit eartip among the 8 reviewed here, I would pick the CP-100+. It’s going to be widely available soon, it improves upon the original CP-100, and most of all it pairs well with most of the IEMs out there barring those with thin nozzles. Similarly, the CP-145 is a great choice and improves the comfort and sonic performance of many IEMs I’ve tried them on.

Among the rest, the CP-360 should be in your stable if you’re into TWS earphones, they are one of the few TWS-specific eartip after all. The CP-500 is a specialist eartip that can be unpredictable, and being the widest-bore tip in Spinfit’s lineup offers something unique. Finally, the CP-240 is something I couldn’t find a use for and the CP-800 didn’t perform as well as the tips it’s supposed to replace (for me). So these two don’t excite me as much.

Thus, I’ve covered most of Spinfit’s mainstream offerings. In the future I plan to make an entire post/thread where the eartips of all major manufacturers (along with a few obscure) ones will be covered. Let’s see how that one goes.

MY VERDICT

CP-100+/CP-145: Highly Recommended
CP-360/CP-500: Recommended

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DISCLAIMER

SpinFit Eartips can be found on Amazon.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

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

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