Tag Archives: earphone review

64 Audio Duo IEM Review

Posted on by
2

The 64 Audio Duo is possibly the best all-rounder UIEM in it’s price range. With a neutral and natural sound that is open and easy to enjoy.

64 Audio Duo

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_breakdown=”true”]

Fit and Comfort

64 Audio’s Duo shares the same shell shape as the rest of their universal line-up. However the faceplate is now a grill design instead of having the usual Apex module. This is due to the Apex Core technology implemented. The shape of the housing will fit most people well and once you settle on the right size of eartip they provide a secure fit for hours of listening.

Comfort is great due to the shape of the housing, insertion depth and also the new cable which is more flexible and comfortable than previous versions. One thing that I find massively contributes to 64 Audio’s comfort is the Apex modules/core as these relieve any internal pressure which creates a lot less listening fatigue when compared to fully sealed designs.

Compatibility

Whilst the Duo is a low impedance and high sensitivity IEM, they are also a relatively high-end earphone. Therefore they should be paired with a source that is able to bring the best out in them. This means they pair best with proper DAP’s and DAC/Amp combo’s rather than being driven solely by a mobile phone.

Features

64 Audio have included some new tech in the Duo. It uses a hybrid setup featuring a single Dynamic driver and single tia BA driver. The tia driver is a tubeless balanced armature driver. Which in turn allows the sound to travel more freely with less distortion. New to the Duo is the already mentioned Apex Core. Instead of using Apex modules like the rest of their line-up, the Duo isn’t tunable and has an open back style design. This leaves the shell open to the outside atmosphere allowing for a less fatiguing and more natural sound.

Next up is Wave Sync, this is direct from 64 Audio: “Due to the high crossover point between the two drivers, Wave Sync was developed to ensure coherence; another industry first. By using a type of “all-pass” filter, we’re able to introduce a crossover while correcting for time without having to change the physical distance between the drivers.”

All these features focus on making the sound more natural, effortless and distortion free. It’s great to see a company still innovating and finding solutions to problems. The Duo still isolate -12dB from outside noise so they are suitable for outdoor use, they just won’t isolate as much as full sealed designs.

Sound

Bass

64 Audio have long been kings of getting really impressive bass from balanced armatures, but they don’t do a lot of hybrid designs. The Duo is using a single dynamic driver down low which gives you a slightly different presentation than most BA models. Here we have a full and articulate low end that digs deep when needed but that can also keep up with complex mixes too. It has that signature dynamic tonality whilst never sounding slow. There is physicality in the punch, and warmth overall that is really pleasant. I would say these lean towards having a slightly more physical punchy sound over one that focusses more on sub-bass warmth. But the great thing here is that they do both well without encroaching on the midrange.

EDM tracks have plenty of drive down low, yet they still have control and articulation for faster rock and metal. Tonally these really hit the mark down low too with a realistic portrayal of bass frequencies.

Midrange

There isn’t any artificial boosting of the midrange on these. They have a linear lower-midrange which allows male vocals to cut through the mix with ease and little influence from the bass. Moving through the midrange there is great separation and layering. The centre image is very focussed and you can hear each layer of the recording with ease. The upper midrange is also superbly done, having enough bite to allow detail to cut through, without a boost to make them sound peaky or artificial.

The Duo have an open and natural midrange. It doesn’t matter if you are listening to acoustic or heavy rock, they just work well.

Treble

The tia drivers that 64 Audio use are renowned for their effortless presentation and resolution. And the Duo are no different. They have a little forwardness at times but due to their tonality it never comes across as harsh or bright. There is plenty of air and extension up top, but it is refined and never brash. They don’t try and impress you with too much presence. Instead they let the resolving and refined nature of them win you over. These are open and natural. There isn’t any metallic tone to the treble. Or glare for that matter. But this is done without muting the treble and making the Duo sound subdued or dull. These are still exciting and dynamic overall.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Duo are a remarkable all-rounder in my opinion. They do well with genres across the board due to having a relatively linear and balanced sound. The Duo has the punch required for EDM, and tactility for metal and subtlety for jazz/acoustic. They also sound very open and natural, making you want to listen more and more.

The soundstaging is great. These are sort of open back so they do have that benefit, but the sound is expansive yet very well focussed. The soundstaging is accurate and places instruments right where they should be. The sound is very whole and never sound diffuse or detached.

Who are they for?

  • People wanting a complete and natural sound without breaking the bank.
  • Those looking for a cheaper everyday alternative to TOTL models without sacrificing much in terms of sound

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_price=”true”]

Interested in all things 64 Audio? Check out more news and reviews here.

Final A-Series reviewed by Ear-Fidelity

Posted on by
Reply

The Final A-series is a group of products created in the pursuit of “Transparent Sound”. This all began with the introduction of their highly praised flagship model, the A8000. Read on for Ear-Fidelity’s reviews for Finals recent additions to the lineup, the A4000 & A3000.

It is a known secret that both the Final A3000 and A4000 are IEM’s that perform way above their price points. Priced at £100 and £120, you really are getting more than you pay for.

With their generalised overview easing you in Ear-Fidelity goes into mighty detail with their reviews on the Final A-Series. Likewise, they even offer direct comparisons to really get your head around what they offer.

Comparing to the A4000, they conclude; “Just like with the A3000, the A4000 proves to push itself further than its asking price. The A4000 provides the listener with more bass engagement, a clean and presentable midrange. Above all, a highly detailed treble rendering.” The A4000 has even made it into Matz’s own recommended list!

Ear-Fidelity’s full reviews of both models can be read here: Final A3000 Review & Final A4000 Review

The A3000 and A4000 aim to “Deliver astonishingly natural sound with each sound image vividly localising over the comfortable and spatially spread low-range sound. The fine touch of the guitar and delicate vibrato of vocals can be clearly distinguished. You can get the feel of the fine nuance of musical tracks, and so new inspiration is borne even from a familiar playlist.”

Lastly, there are plenty of other reviews for many beautiful Final products on our site. You can check each and every single one out here: Final Reviews

Final A4000 Earphone Review

Posted on by
Reply

Final have released a new model in the A series, a more budget offering than their flagship but a nice contrasting model against their current E series, with a focus on clarity, air and control.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_pros_cons=”true” review_show_breakdown=”true” review_show_price=”true”]

Fit and Comfort

The Final A4000 sport a lightweight ABS housing which has a 6mm dynamic driver inside, the shape is contoured to fit your ears comfortably and securely. In use, I found the Final A4000 to fit securely and comfortably in my ears for everyday use.

Be sure to try all the different size tips, luckily Final include a better range than many brands so everyone should find a tip that fits them well.

Compatibility

The Final A4000 have an impedance of 18Ohms and a sensitivity of 100dB/mW so they are fairly sensitive and are driven fine out of portable sources. Despite their low price, they are one of those models that does benefit from better sources such as a dedicated DAP.

Sound

Bass: Whilst the bass on the Final A4000 isn’t strong in presence, it makes up for it in extension and control. There is moderate punch but slightly more focus in the sub-bass, with a subtle lift that provides adequate body. These have a brighter leaning sound signature so they won’t be suitable for those who enjoy a bit more bass. The transient response is however excellent, they can keep up with complex mixes without issue and always come across controlled. No matter what you throw at them, they can easily keep up, with great articulation too.

Midrange: The midrange is clean and crisp in it’s presentation, the bass doesn’t bleed in and muddy the vocals and separate vocal tracks are easily distinguished. Where they don’t do as well is in the sibilance region, there is a peak sadly which could be a little fatiguing. This peak though is easily lowered with the use of EQ, which definitely helps. There is a lot of detail in the midrange, it’s just that peak in the upper midrange that needs taming a little.

Treble: Plenty of energy and sparkle here, and to some it could be a little too much, but for the most part the treble is always present however rarely sharp. These are a slightly bright leaning earphone but the treble isn’t too metallic or splashy so it doesn’t come across as grating. There is good extension in the treble too, and it doesn’t drop off too sharply.

Genres and Soundstaging

The neutral/bright sound of the Final A4000 could make certain energetic genres sound a little harsh, but anything that benefits from good detail and control sounds great, especially slower rock and acoustic tracks. The nice thing is that the A4000 respond very well to EQ so you can get rid of any peaks quite easily.

Soundstaging is actually very good for the price point, you get a very coherent centre image with good separation, along with accurate width and height. They don’t sound closed in at all, which is really impressive at this price point.

Conclusion

Well the Final A4000 are certainly very technically impressive, with excellent transient response, clarity and control. The upper midrange peak is a little harsh, but overall they provide a clean sound presentation with brilliant soundstaging for the price. These are a good contrast to the slightly more fun and v-shaped Final E4000.

DUNU DK-3001 Hybrid Quad Driver Earphone Review – Hybrid Theory

Posted on by
Reply

DUNU DK-3001 Hybrid Quad Driver IEM Review

The Dunu DK-3001 is a detailed and well balanced IEM, lending it’s hand to all genres and never becoming congested or peaky. A technical achiever that is also a lot of fun to listen to.

Pros:

  • Overall balanced and detailed sound
  • Layering
  • Soundstage

Cons:

  • Ergonomics
  • Treble may be borderline bright to some

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The Dunu DK-3001 are an interesting looking IEM, and very difficult to describe so it’s best to look at the pictures. The stainless housing is low key in black, with Dunu laser etched onto the outside.

The DK-3001 feel very well built, the stainless housing feels tough, the cables have very good strain relief and these use standard MMCX connectors so changing cables out is easy. I cannot find fault with the build, althought the MMCX connectors are extemly tight when first out of the box.

Accessory wise, if you have bought Dunu before, you know they include a ton of extras, these are no exception. They come with a hard plastic case, cable clip, flight adaptor, 3.5mm to 6.3mm adaptor, 2.5mm TRRS balanced spare cable, a pair of Comply foam tips in M, Spinfit tips in SS, S, M and L, and two different types of silicone tips in S, M and L.

Everything you need to get a good fit, and having a balanced cable is a big plus in my opinion, there is nothing missing with these.

Comfort, Isolation and Cable Noise

Well the housing of the DK-3001 is subject to some comfort issues, as they are not the most ergonomic IEMs out there. However I did find these to be more comfortable than the Dunu DN-2002. There are some sharp edges on the housing that can cause some discomfort over prolonged periods of time for some people, but once I got a good fit I found them to be quite comfortable. On a personal note I dislike memory wire, so getting a good upgrade cable could be useful for some.

Isolation is fairly average as these are vented, they don’t block out much outside noise so are not the best for very noisy environments, but general commuting and use will be fine.

Cable noise is not an issue with these.

———————————————————————————————–

READ MORE: MrSpeakers Aeon Audiophile Headphone Review

———————————————————————————————–

Sound

  • Bass

The bass on these is dynamic and full, it is quick and nimble when needed yet comes out in full when called for. Bass guitar lines are superbly controlled and easy to follow, kick drums hit with punch and authority, but all in line with the rest of the sound. The bass is not dominating in any way, it is well behaved but extremely articulate and well layered. They extend right down into the sub-bass with ease, acoustic guitars have very real body and the bass never gets in the way of the mids.

  • Midrange

The midrange is well detailed, the bass does not create additional warmth which allows the midrange to shine. I find the midrange to be quite smooth without huge peaks or dips, these is however slightly more presence in the upper mids. The don’t however suffer from sibilance in the upper mids, and what is excellent is the amount of fine detail that can be extracted from the mids.

  • Treble

The treble is crisp and clear, it has some added sparkle and presence and could be borderline bright for treble sensitive people. I find them to have excellent definition, extension and presence. The treble is not laid back, it is there allowing you to hear and distinguish every cymbal tap.

  • Soundstage

The soundstage is quite wide and airy, these is plenty of space between instruments and the soundstage is accurate and not artificial sounding. Instrument separation is excellent, with everything being easy to pick out, even in fast and technical tracks.

Conclusion

The Dunu DK-3001 is a very well done hybrid IEM, the bass is dynamic and punchy, with excellent and realistic body. The midrange is well layered and very detailed, with and hint of smoothness to it. The highs are always present, yet not fatiguing. These work well with all genres, the bass is fun and energetic in EDM, and rock comes across with detail and layering. Jazz has a very natural tone, and they just take all genres in their stride, however their ability to control heavy metal is truly impressive.

Dita Dream Earphone Review

Posted on by
Reply

Dita Audio Dream IEM Review

The Dita Dream are a dream to listen to with well recorded lossless files, transparent and effortless, with an excellent soundstage to boot, a true TOTL IEM.

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The Dita dream come in a very high quality white card box, lift off the top and the Dita Dream are held in a velvet coated foam insert. Lift this up and you will find another compartment with the accessories underneath.
The Dream themselves are metal bodied, matte black IEM’s which look great and feel like the premium product they are. The cable is very well built and comes with the Awesome plug, and interchangeable plug system that really is nifty. The overall look and feel of these is excellent and they ooze quality as well as being rather understated.

The build quality of the Dita Dream is superb, the metal housing is sturdy yet relatively lightweight, the cable is thick and detachable, the Awesome plug is a system that allows you to change the plug from 3.5mm single ended to 2.5mm balanced, or many others that you can purchase separately. There is good strain relief throughout, and I see not issues arising from the build quality.

Accessory wise you get a very nice leather pouch to store them in, and a plethora of tips. You get S, M and L in 3 types of silicone tips, one is wide bore soft stem, one is wide bore stiffer stem, and the last one has a blue stem and slightly stiffer outer silicone. Also included is a flight adaptor, so you get everything you need to get started.

Comfort, Isolation, Cable Noise and Driver Flex

The Dita Dream are a dream to wear, the shape of the housing is perfect and fits my small ears well, the angle of the nozzle means they don’t protrude at and odd angle and you can achieve quite a deep fit with them. The cable to begin with is a little unruly and stiff, but I am sure it will soften up with some use.

Isolation is very good, blocking out a large amount of outside noise, they are vented but this doesn’t seem to affect the isolation much.

Cable noise is minimal as it is routed behind your ear.

Driver flex is present upon initial insertion, but is not a big problem.

———————————————————————————————–

READ MORE: Final E3000 & E2000 Earphone Review

———————————————————————————————–

Sound Quality

  • Bass

The bass is incredibly punchy and the sub-bass response is truly impressive, extending right down into the sub-bass without any early roll-off. Listen to some rock and you can feel the kick drums, listen to some EDM and the lows are equally as happy being full and vibrant, yet never sounding out of control. I have not heard rumble like this, from any other IEM, yet it isn’t over the top, the rumble only comes out when called for. The lows also do a good job at staying separate from the lower mids, not warming them up. I will also add the the layering and resolution down low is excellent.

  • Mids

The midrange is delicate, and wonderfully detailed, you can really pick apart the recording with these, hearing every nuance. The midrange is very clean, having the tendency to be a little more on the analytical side. Here you can hear every pick of a guitar string, every breath a singer takes, very insightful but not fatiguing. There is no sibilance up top either, and during harmonies you can clearly tell where each singer is positioned.

  • Treble

Not lacking in any way up top yet also not fatiguing, the highs are as good as the recording allows them to be. With well recorded music you will be presented with effortlessly extended highs that have excellent transparency and also air. Never fading to the back even during faster tracks, you can always hear the energy and detail up top.

Soundstage

The soundstage is both deep and wide, with excellent imaging and they give you a real sense of the space in ambient and live recordings.

Conclusion

The Dita Dream are a fun sounding IEM where everything is on a level playing field, nothing sticks out and nothing is missing. They are incredibly detailed, yet not analytical, however they do allow great insight into the recording should you want to analyse it. The space and air around each instrument is a highlight, and the transparency means you will definitely want to listen to better recorded lossless files on these. These have dynamics that mulitple BA designs cannot hope to match, they are a true TOTL dynamic driver IEM.

Oriveti New Primacy Earphone Review

Posted on by
Reply

Oriveti New Primacy IEM Review

The Oriveti New Primacy are a slightly mid forward sounding in-ear headphone, with excellent air, detail retrieval and layering, a must listen at this price range.

Pros:

  • Clarity
  • Control
  • Detail retrieval

Cons:

  • Highs could be a little more refined

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The Oriveti New Primacy are a beautiful in-ear headphone, with seductive curves and a smooth finish. With a simple logo on each earpiece, they are understated, and the braided cable adds to the quality feel.

The build quality is top notch, the New Primacy housing is metal and very well finished, the cable is a 8 core braided cable with MMCX connectors. The MMCX connectors are tight and do not detach easily, or cut out, the jack is right angled with excellent traind relief and the y-split is a small piece of heatshrink. There is a chin slider, but there is lack of strain relief where the cable goes into the MMCX connector. Overall a very well built headphone that should last a long time.

Accessory wise these do not disappoint, they come with a multitude of tips 2 pairs of each silicon tip (S,M,L), 2 pairs of bi-flange tips, along with 2 pairs of medium foam tips, you also get a sleek metal carry case, flight adaptor, 3.5 to 6.3mm adaptor and a pair of earhooks. An excellent amount of accessories, to ensure everyone will be able to get a good fit.

Comfort, Isolation, Cable Noise and Driver Flex

The New Primacy are extremely comfortable due to their smooth shape and ease of insertion. The cable is soft and flexible and you really don’t feel them once inserted properly.

Isolation is good, they managed to block out a lot of outside noise effectivey and would be perfect for the daily commute.

Cable noise is not an issue with these, however there is a slight bit of driver flex upon insertion.

———————————————————————————————–

READ MORE: Dunu DN-2002 Hybrid Quad Driver IEM Review

———————————————————————————————–

Sound Quality

  • Bass

The bass on these will not overpower the rest of the sound, but they will create a solid foundation for the whole sound. They are full bodied, yet tight and impactful when called for, with excellent extension. They won’t satisfy bassheads, but for most there will be enough presence to keep things fun without excess. The dyanmic driver really gives these an articulate and well balanced low end, that can keep up with heavy rock, yet also the full body of acoustic recordings. I find there is a bit of mid-bass bloom, but this only adds a little extra body and does not affect the lower midrange.

  • Mids

The midrange is detailed and linear, nothing stands out apart from the excellent clarity and air. Both male and female vocals sound exceptional with very good detail retrieval, only the slightest hint of sibilance. Tonally they are good but maybe a litte dry for some tastes, not sounding as warm and euphoric as some out there.

  • Highs

The highs have good air and extension, and they are well presented in the mix. The great thing about the highs on these is the lack of peakiness, meaning whilst they are always present they are never fatiguing. They are sparkly and have good detail and resolution with great layering, overall very good treble indeed.

  • Soundstage

The soundstage is fairly intimate, with slightly forward mids, the instrument separation is very good with an airy presentation though.

Conclusion

The Oriveti New Primacy has a bit of a mid forward sound signature, with excellent clarity and air throughout the range, the bass digs deep and is very articulate, the mids have a habit of bringing out all the detail in recordings but not in an unpleasant way. The highs are airy and well extended, without fatiguing properties, overall a very comfortable and enjoyable listen. The New primacy manages to be a very coherent sounding hybrid design, with a very well textured an layered sound.

SoundMAGIC ST80 Bluetooth Sports Earphone Review

Posted on by
Reply

SoundMAGIC ST80 Bluetooth Earphone Review

The SoundMAGIC ST80 is the perfect companion for sports enthusiasts, with a big helping of bass, yet crisp and detailed mids and non-fatiguing highs they are sure to keep you motivated on the move.

Pros:

  • Overall sound quality
  • Fit
  • Build quality

Cons:

  • Possibly a bit too much bass for some

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The SoundMAGIC ST80 looks like most other earhook sports headphones, with a rotation behind the ear hook to securely hold them in place, and a small housing that goes into your ear. There is a battery pack on the cable, with a clip to clip it to your clothing, and a small remote. I think they look great for a sports headphone and do not stick out too much, I also like the black and red cable linking the headphones to the battery pack.

 

The build quality feels sturdy and these should hold up fine to daily sports activities very well, the cabling feels good, the headphones themselves are a mixture of metal and plastic. There is good strain relief on the connections and being Bluetooth means less cabling to fail, the cable is detachable though (screw on) and also included is a regular audio cable with controls.

Accessory wise you are spoilt for choice, with a nice clamshell carry case, 2 cables (one Bluetooth, one regular with mic and controls), an adaptor that splits the audio and microphone cable for use with computers, USB charging cable, phono adaptor that changes the pinout for apple/android, cable clip, S/M/L Comply foam tips, XS/S/M/L sports silicone tips, S/M/L regular silicone tips and also a pair of bi-flange tips. This amount of accessories and tips means you are guaranteed to find a secure fit, but also have something to store them in when not in use.

 

Comfort, Isolation, Cable noise and Ease of use:

The ST80 take a while to get used to fitting, once you get the hook behind your hear it is quite easy to get a good fit. The fit is nice and secure due to the earhooks keeping them in place, but the earhooks are soft enough to not cause discomfort. I find them to be very comfortable once you get a good fit and would not have problems wearing them for extended periods of time.

Isolation is good, not as good as fuly sealed units, but enough to block out most of the world around you when you are out jogging, just be careful when crossing the road or are around cycle paths. The good isolation also means they won’t leak sound outwards and annoy people near you.

Cable noise is very low on these, which is important for a sports headphone.

 

I found the ST80 paired over Bluetooth quickly and easily, I had no transmission issues and the remote was easy to use, if you long hold the volume up it changes track, instead of the usual double tap of the middle button. Something you will need to get used to, but nothing problematic; They charge easily via a microUSB port on the battery pack.

———————————————————————————————–

READ MORE: SoundMAGIC E10BT Bluetooth Earphone Review

———————————————————————————————–

Sound

  • Bass

The low end is slightly boosted on the ST80, keeping an upbeat and always present bass line keeping you motivated when out at the gym. Luckily the bass is not a bloated mess, it can extend low and you can feel it as well as hear it, but it does not veil the mid range too much. I find the impact of kick drums to be very impressive, and bass guitars are also very articulate, the only thing they don’t do so well is fast paced heavy metal.

  • Mids

The mids are slightly behind the bass in overall quantity, but they are still easily heard, female vocals sound a little better than male vocals. Overall though, the crunch from guitars is aggressive when called for, and there is a good amount of crisp detail. What is very good in the mid-range is the spacial cues and separation, being quite open and expansive.

  • Treble

The treble is very well reproduced here, again it takes a slight back seat in the overall sound but it still retains good clarity and air. It does not sound up front, leaning towards a darker, bassier sound. These won’t be for those who want the clearest sound, but for those looking for a fun sound whilst out and about they are perfect.

The soundstage is intimate, but the separation is good.

 

Conclusion

The SoundMAGIC ST80 can compete with the big boys, like the Sennheiser HD1 in-ear wireless, the ST80 have a bass oriented sound signature but with good clarity overall. The bass is the driving force behind these, but the mids cut though the mix very well offering excellent detail retrieval. The highs are slightly dull which leads to an easier listening experience but not the best overall balance.

The design lends itself to sports use, and the sound for that use is perfect, a nice big bass beat to keep you motivated, but without masking the rest of the sound.