Tag Archives: quad driver

Oriveti O400 Quad BA Earphone Review

Posted on by
Reply

Oriveti have a new BA based model, the O400, with a subtle sub-bass lift and a focus on clarity and control.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_breakdown=”true”]

Fit and Comfort

The Oriveti O400 have a similar shell design as all the newer O and OH series from Oriveti – a hand crafted resin shell that is smooth and very well finished that has a fairly short nozzle which allows for a shallow to medium insertion depth. They fit well in the ear, but the housings are not the smallest and will stick out a little for those with smaller/odd shaped ears like me.

Comfort is good, the housing shape really helps with this as there are no sharp edges that dig in to your ears, also the nozzle is a good angle and lenght to fit most people securely without the insertion depth being too intrusive. The cable has a pre-moulded section of memory wire which is very comfortable, and the cable is soft and comfortable in use.

Compatibility

The O400 uses 4 Balanced Armature drivers, they are Knowles drivers and split between ultra-low/low-mid/mid-high/high frequencies. The O400 have an impedance of 15Ohms and a sensitivity rating of 110+-3dB/mW @1000Hz – this means they are very easy to drive however being an all BA based model it is best to pair them with a source that has less than 1Ohm output impedance to get the best out of them.

Sound

Bass: The O400 have 2 drivers covering the low end, they split up the sub and mid-bass and allow for a subtle sub-bass lift that doesn’t bleed through and affect the midrange or cause any unwanted resonance and bloat. Oriveti have managed to pull off a really impressive tuning down low, one that has a full and deep sub-bass response yet a tight and impactful mid-bass that always sounds controlled. There is never any warming to the lower midrange, allowing vocals and guitars to shine through with ease, these don’t have a high level of bass and it is well aligned with the rest of the frequency response – so they wouldn’t be my pick for bass-heads – however they do handle bass very well without any discernible roll-off.

Midrange: Due to the exceptional control of the low end, the midrange just cuts through with ease and clarity on the O400 – offering up a revealing yet easy to listen to midrange experience without harshness. For the price these extract an impressive amount of detail from the midrange, you won’t miss a thing yet they are very well balanced too. Male vocals don’t sound dull, female vocals are devoid of sibilance or excess presence, the transition into the treble is handled very well and nothing stands out. These have an effortless and clean midrange that seems to handle anything you throw at them without sounding congested.

Treble: The treble rounds off a really great presentation allowing for plenty of air and ambience, along with detail and sparkle without overdoing it and becoming thin/bright sounding. You won’t miss any cymbal taps or crashes, snares are incredibly snappy and violins are presented with finesse and grace. There is no early roll-off, they aren’t muted or splashy, they have great control and this really does help to make the O400 sound refined, open and clean.

Genres and Soundstaging

The O400 work well with pretty much anything you throw at them, they have a controlled and clean sound with a mild sub-bass boost that adds body and reinforces the low end without affecting other frequencies. However these are not bass heavy and would not be my first pick for more bass oriented genres (the OH500 does a better job with those).

Soundstaging isn’t huge, there is great air though and whilst it may be lacking in absolute width and heigh there is good depth to the sound and positional accuracy is a definite strong point of the O400.

Who are they for?

  • Those wanting a clean and transparent sound without the more typical analytical tuning
  • People who want a comfortable and enjoyable daily IEM

Conclusion

Oriveti have created a unique tuning with the O400, they have a clear and open sound that has a slight sub-bass lift that helps give the sound a solid foundation and adds a bit of body without adding bloat or overall warmth. This works really well and the O400 are a comfortable and easy to listen to daily IEM that offer up a lot of detail for their relatively low price, yet another excellent value for money model from Oriveti and one that I can easily recommend you try if you enjoy a more detail oriented earphone.

[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_price=”true”]

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.

DUNU DN-2002 Quad Hybrid Driver Earphone Review

Posted on by
Reply

DUNU DN-2002 Earphone Review

With the DUNU DN-2002, they have made a very coherent sounding IEM, that impresses with its clarity, natural tone and larger than normal soundstage.

Pros:

  • Resolution
  • Extension on both ends

Cons

  • Comfort (size and weight)
  • Cable is not easy to remove

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The DN-2002 are and odd looking IEM, it is easier to see in the pictures than to describe them. They don’t look bad, but they are quite big as they have managed to get 2 dynamic drivers, and 2 balanced armatures into them.

Build quality is excellent as with the rest of the Dunu line, the housing is metal, the cable is detachable and feels well built with good strain relief. These will last a long time.

Accessories again are plentiful, Dunu are well known for including a wide array of accessories and these are no exception. You get some ear-hooks that should help them stay in your ear and relieve some of the weight, you get a pack of various Spinfit tips, a pack or regular silicone tips, and a pair of Comply tips. Also included is a jack adaptor and a cable clip, all the accessories are held in a neat hard plastic case.

Comfort and Isolation

The DUNU DN-2002 are metal and heavy with all those drivers inside, I personally have small ears and they are not the best fitting for me. They stick out quite far and do not have the most secure fit. If you have slightly larger ears I can see these fitting fine, but once I have a good seal they fit fine.
They can be worn with the cable straight down, or over the ear.

Isolation is perfectly fine for on the go use, but do not block out as much as fully sealed models.

—————————————————————————-

READ MORE: Pioneer Monitor5 Closed Back Headphone Review

———————————————————————————————–

Sound

  • Bass

The bass on the DN-2002 is well placed with effortless extension right down to the sub-bass. The dynamic drivers are working well here giving the sound a natural tone. What I like with these is that they don’t suffer from a mid bass hump, the bass is linear and the sub-bass response is very impressive.

  • Mids

The DUNU DN-2002 has crystal clear mids with no bleed from the bass, they are very transparent and true to the source. Another thing that stands out in the mids is the separation and layering, you can easily pick apart the recording and hear all the details.

  • Treble

The treble is smooth with great extension, these never become bright or strident but the detail is there. No real issues with the treble, it is present and very well controlled and detailed without grain or splashiness.

  • Soundstage

One of the standout features of the DN-2002, it is very wide and expansive with excellent placement and air around each instrument. The separation and imaging is all so precise.

Conclusion

The DUNU DN-2002 offer a very coherent sound, everything is there and well balanced. They are not neutral, but natural and balanced sounding. The extension on both ends, and the expansive soundstage are what will grab you first, but listen closer and the resolution of the sound will impress too. Now if only they were a little smaller.

Shure SE846 Quad Balanced Armature In-Ear Monitor Earphones – Announcement

Posted on by
Reply

The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Quad Balanced Armature In-Ear Monitor Earphone from Shure, the SE846 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Shure’s SE846 represents the pinnacle of personal monitor technology. Equipped with four dedicated high-definition balanced armature drivers and innovative low-pass filter the SE846 offers unparalleled True Subwoofer bass performance whilst retaining harmonious sound across the entire frequency range.

Shure have configured the SE846 in a three way system with dedicated drivers for bass, midrange and trebles to ensure an even distribution of sound. Advanced low-pass filters enable unequalled True Subwoofer low-end without distortion. User replaceable audio filters offer fine-tuning of the frequency response for a more balanced, warmer or brighter sound stage, making the SE846 a versatile music machine.

To ensure a comfortable listening experience with high sound isolation the SE846 have been ergonomically designed to prevent external noise from tainting the sound. As every ear is different Shure has included a broad array of eartips in different variations to ensures the perfect seal in any ear canal.

With customisable sound, replaceable cables and a wide selection of accessories the Shure SE846 universal monitors are sure to enthral music enthusiasts.

Features

  • Quad High-Definition Balanced Armature MicroDrivers with True Subwoofer
  • Extended high-end clarity and unparalleled low-end performance
  • Removable frequency filters allow adjusting of sound signature
  • Sound isolating sleeves block ambient noise
  • Robust, ergonomic housing with sweat-resistant construction
  • Secure over-the-ear cable configuration
  • Rugged Kevlar reinforced detachable cable
  • MMCX connector with lock-snap mechanism
  • Formable wire ensures secure placement
  • Wide variety of accessories

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Shure SE846 Quad Balanced Armature In-Ear Monitor Earphones