audio-sound @ hatena

An audio review & news blog. The volume should not exceed 80 dB is recommended. I usually adhere to the safe-listening style by WHO. Please note that my aural impressions and interpretations of measurements are also made from a safe-listening style.

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IEM Review

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Open Audio Mercury: Excellent analog-type listening earphones that nostalgically portray music with rich harmonics

Open Audio Mercury is a signature with a near-neutral sound balance and an emphasis on heavy bass.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Open Audio Witch: Heavy V-shaped sound. Low distortion

Open Audio Witch has a V-shaped sound signature with an emphasis on low and mid-high frequencies.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Open Audio Alkaid: Superior monitor earphones that convey clarity, subtlety, and detail without spilling anything.

The Open Audio Alkaid is a high-end earphone with a delicate, analytical sound with high transparency across the entire frequency range.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) FloAudio CALLA: Excellent listening earphones with mellow and deep sound

FloAudio touted the CALLA's sound as being on the same level of performance as high-priced earphones, and in fact, that claim is almost true. They sound very low distortion and more rewarding to listen to than most models with a price tag …

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Hidizs Mermaid MM2: Audio specs are above price. Equipped with proprietary duct tuning. Overall balance is low frequency leaning for all nozzles.

The Hidizs Mermaid MM2 has a V-shaped sound with a slightly more midrange neutrality with the standard gold nozzle. The silver nozzle, which is supposed to adjust more toward the highs, actually emphasizes the upper midrange to mid-highs. …

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Unique Melody Maverick Ti: A model that is finished safely like Uniqie Melody.

If you are looking for a choice in the $1000 neighborhood, the Unique Melody Marverick Ti is generally easy to recommend because its exterior build quality and sound meet the price level.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Tingker TK160: Excellent listening earphones with deep bass and very clear, bright, cheerful, and ear-friendly midrange

The Tingker TK160 has a neutral sound, leaning toward the low frequencies. The midrange sounds bright and clear, but the highs have a mild monitor-like listening sound. It is attractive because of its excellent midrange transparency, but i…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) RAPTGO HOOK-X: High quality studio tuning monitors. Beautiful, colorful midrange that renders vocals cleanly.

The RAPTGO HOOK-X is a very high overall quality earphone with an innovative configuration that combines planar drive and piezo drivers, but the sound balance is well organized in a good studio tuning style.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko: Excellent sound balance and low distortion, but low resolution

The 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko earphones have excellent sound balance, low distortion, and clean sound, giving a refreshing and delicate sound.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) LETSHUOER D13: DLC IEMs from leading brands

The LETSHUOER D13 is the rookie earphone created by LETSHUOER using the DLC driver, which has produced many great models with excellent sound quality. the excellent characteristics of the DLC driver not only proved its acoustic performance…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) CCA CRA+: This model is a mid-range version of the CCA CRA. Not bad, but overall, CRA-

CCA CRA+ has a V-shaped sound balance with an awareness of neutral sound, and is an IEM with a highly transparent midrange that is carefully listened to.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) KZ EDX Ultra: Midrange with excellent texture and deep lows, but highs tend to be the weakest point

The KZ EDX Ultra is an excellent IEMs with audio specs and build quality above its price point, but it has the disadvantage of being habitual in the high frequencies, which can easily become a weakness. It is likely not suitable for those …

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Yu9 U-556: Excellent Etymotic clone that overcomes the weaknesses of the ER4B and offers a more natural texture

The Yu9 U-556 is an Etymotic-like IEMs with excellent textural expression and has a sound that beats the original ER4B in that it is more accurate in the midrange. For more purist Etymotic fans, I recommend the U-554, but for those seeking…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Yu9 U-554: A well-made etymotic clone. An alternative to ER4B. Recommended for vocal songs and ASMR

The Yu9 U-554 is a well-made clone of the Etymotic Research ER4B. It has an improved fit, improved usability, and definitely better value for money than the original. The packaging is not cheap either.

(IEM Review) Campfire Audio DORADO 2020: Hot, live, dry sound

The Campfire Audio DORADO 2020 have a distinctive, hot, powerful sound. The low saturation, dry sound, and lack of midrange transparency are not really audiophile-friendly, but if you like a gray, classy-sounding ambience, it's not bad.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Moondrop CHU: The entry class IEMs of uncompromising brands is a bit different

Moondrop CHU is an entry-level Chinese earphone that could be called a "KATO the Younger," created with the knowledge gained from KATO. While the quality is kept in line with the price, the development results obtained from the latest mode…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) KZ EDA Green: High resolution and high definition. Excellent monitor earphones

The KZ EDA (green) is an excellent neutral studio monitor, capable of rendering the entire musical picture clearly and crisply. It is not for those who are sensitive to high frequencies, those who want thickness in the midrange, or those w…

(IEM Review) JH Audio JH13v2 Pro Universal: Resolution worthy of a high-end model, deep low frequency range

The JH Audio JH13v2 Pro Universal shows JH Audio's commitment to low frequencies, but the sound is not worth $100,000. Many people would not buy these earphones for even 10,000 yen. And low frequency lovers can get better quality low frequ…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Audiosense T180: High-definition monitor sound hidden behind well-balanced sound

The Audiosnse T180 is a warm-neutral IEMs that is not bad in its price range. They are not bad to use as standard, but their real appeal is their high-definition sound when used with a high output impedance headphone amplifier and attenuat…

(IEM Review) MEZE RAI SOLO: Stylish, bright, sharp-edged sound

MEZE RAI SOLO is an IEMs that delivers sharp, high-resolution sound. This product will be quite attractive to those who seek a sharpness to their guitar edge.

(IEM Review) Shure AONIC 3: Only localization and resolution are good, but that's all. A rare lo-fi sound nowadays, created by a marked lack of extension and transparency.

SHURE is known for great monitor headphones, but the earphone department is really not good. If you have the money to buy the SHURE AONIC 3, there is a good chance you would be better off buying the next earphones in the same price range w…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) TFZ LIVE 3: Has a deep groove-filled low frequency range and provides a mild, comfortable listening sound with a good sense of depth

The TFZ LIVE 3 has the deep lows typical of TFZ, with gentle, mild highs and near-neutral mids that are comfortable to listen to. It is a fairly well-balanced listening earphone in its price range and a relatively easy variant to recommend.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) iBasso IT01X: V-shaped listening model with neutrality in mind. Drawback is that the low midrange tends to be strong.

The iBasso IT01X has a V-shaped sound signature with a slightly concave midrange. One point of concern is that the low midrange is quite overemphasized, so the sound image in the midrange is easily affected and tends to be fuzzy.

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Audiosense AQ0: Enjoy powerful, dynamic and energetic sound with high resolution

The Audiosense AQ0 is a very strong choice if you are looking for a well-balanced warm neutral sound for under $100. It offers sufficiently high resolution, low distortion, and a deep soundstage, resulting in an energetic and powerful soun…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) KZ ZES: This model improves on the KZ ZEX's sound balance in the low and midrange. However, the high frequency range and resolution are degraded.

The KZ ZES is a model that addresses the biggest problem of the KZ ZEX, which was to improve the sound balance between the low and mid frequencies. The low frequency range of the ZES is particularly well tuned with good quality, and the co…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) Fidue Gem 4: The resolution is very high, but the overall balance is aggressive, with a lot of distortion and a dry sound characteristic of balanced armatures.

The Fidue Gem4 is a very high-resolution sounding earphone that can impress those who like a clear sound. However, the sound is a bit too aggressive and has a lot of balanced-armature-like distortion, which makes it hard to say that it is …

(Chi-fi IEM Review) DUNU FALCON PRO: These earphones have very good build quality, and you can enjoy changing the sound quality with the tuning nozzle. However, the sound is warm and not for everyone.

The DUNU FALCON PRO is quite an attractive option if you want a beautiful earphone with a high-end texture in the 20,000 yen range. The overall sound performance is also up to the standard of the price, and is quite good by any standard. H…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) NF Audio NM2+: Excellent studio monitor earphones

The NF Audio NM2+ is the first choice for users who are looking for a practical studio monitor for DTMs at a low price. It reproduces the sound of monitor speakers quite faithfully. The audio specs are excellent and far beyond the value of…

(Chi-fi IEM Review) KZ ZEX: Lacks a sense of construction, but has high resolution. Unique dynamic warm sound that is rich and full.

The technical performance of the KZ ZEX is excellent, offering a sound comparable to the high end for an earphone that costs just under $30. However, the tuning is not to everyone's taste, pursuing the usual KZ hobby, and basically it is v…

(IEM Review) Westone Pro X30: Stage monitor with emphasis on midrange. Not for everyday music appreciation. Good for listening to explanatory videos or practicing your instrument.

Westone Pro X30 Disclaimer Recommended for people like this Overview of Westone Pro X30 audio-sound Score Basic Specifications package Package contents Build quality Fit Sound quality REW Frequency Response Sound quality description Sound …