Denon


Denon AH-C710



First of all, thank you to advancedmp3players.co.uk for making this review possible.

Specs.
Single dynamic driver 11.5 mm
Frequency range: 5 Hz-25 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW
Price: £89
Colours: Black or silver



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is top notch, the housing is made of metal and high quality plastic. The cable is 70cm and has an 80cm extension, the fixed cable has a straight jack while the extension has a 90 degree jack. The quality of the cable is excellent as well, very durable and rubbery.
The included accessories are, three pairs of silicone sleeves (S, M, L) and one pair of foam sleeves, 80cm extension cable, a shirt clip and a leather hard case with built in cable management. Not bad at all.

Comfort and fit.
The C710’s are about average both size and weight wise. Comfort is good due to the various sleeves provided, the isolation is about average. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down, which is the intended way of wearing them. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be minimized with the clip and by wearing the cable over the ear.



Sound quality.
The C710’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Straight out of the box they offer bass, bass and more bass! Even after settling, the bass is still very dominant and warm sounding, but the detail and clarity is still good for a dynamic IEM.
The bass is plentiful and of good quality, the mids are very nice and liquid and quite up front, and the highs are crisp, but a tad in the background and they are slightly coloured by the warm bass and mids. The soundstage is one of the largest I have heard and very nicely layered as well.

My test tunes sound very powerful, the heartbeat at the beginning of Dark side of the moon is simply stunning and very strong, excellent! Dance music and other bass driven music is the C710’s home field.



To sum up.
The good: the bass, the sheer power and the excellent soundstage.
The bad: not for monitoring or bass-light tastes.

Verdict: if you are a true basshead, get the C710’s! Highly recommended (for bass lovers).





Dunu


Dunu DN-11





Specs.
Balanced armature driver
Frequency range: 10Hz-20KHz
Impedance: 26Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
Price: $73
Colour: Gold



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is top notch, the housing is made of metal and the high quality cable is 120cm and has a 45 degree jack at the end, it even has a built in cable management strap.
The included accessories are, seven pairs of silicone sleeves in the sizes S, M and L (soft and stiff silicone sleeves and one pair of dual flanged sleeves), three pouches (a hard case with a zipper, a soft pouch with a button and a soft pouch with a strap).



Comfort and fit.
The DN-11s are about average both size and weight wise. Comfort is good due to the various sleeves provided, the isolation is great for a dynamic IEM. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. There are no microphonic noises when wearing the cable over the ear.



Sound quality.
The DN-11s do not really change drastically with burn in.
The sound signature would be best described as neutral, or more on the cold side than on the warm side. The DN-11s offer a very precise bass that has more quality than quantity, lush and detailed mids and clear highs that never cross the line to become sibilant. The soundstage is slightly bigger than average and very well presented with great imaging and separation.

The DN-11s suit all music styles, and will make the music sound lively and natural. The dynamic and slightly mids focused sound offer a detail that is normally found only in much more expensive balanced armature IEMs. Overall the DN-11s are highly enjoyable with a great combination of detail and energy wrapped into a big soundstage.

My test tunes, and all other genres of music I have tried the DN-11s with sound great, detailed, dynamic and very enjoyable.
I would say that the strongest point of the DN-11 is that they lack any weak spots.



To sum up.
The good: great overall sound, great build quality, great accessory pack.
The bad: nothing really.

Verdict: one of my absolute favourite IEMs! Highly recommended!





Dunu I3C-S





Specs.
Single balanced armature driver
Frequency range: 16Hz-22KHz
Impedance: 10Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
Price: £74
Colour: Black/bronze

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent! The high quality cable is 120cm and has a 90 degree jack at the end, and it has the same built in cable management strap as the DN-11.
The included accessories are, seven pairs of silicone sleeves in the sizes S, M and L in soft or stiff material and one pair of double flanges sleeves (mine came with a pair of foam sleeves as well), a shirt clip, an aircraft adapter 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter, very clever earhooks for the cable, a conductor, a cleaning cloth, a soft pouch and finally a very nice hard case. Excellent accessory pack! Can anyone beat that?



Comfort and fit.
The I3C-S are small, light and excellently comfortable. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and the cable is not prone to microphonic noises. They are meant to be worn with the cable running over the ear, and the very nice earhooks help keep the cable in its place.



Sound quality.
As already mentioned the I3C-S comes with a conductor that enhances the sound, but needs plenty more power to really shine. It can be noted that the foam sleeves also add a fullness to the sound.
Without the conductor the sound signature is natural/neutral, slightly rolled off at both ends but very nice in between. The bass is a little shy in quantity but makes up for it with the quality, mids are the strongest point and are very lush and detailed, highs are clear if a little rolled off up top. The soundstage is slightly bigger than average and very well presented with great imaging and separation.

Adding the conductor does not really change the sound signature, but the roll off at both ends is gone. The bass has more punch lower down and the highs really sparkle up top,and of course the mids are as lush as without the conductor.

The I3C-S suit all music styles, my test tunes sound great, detailed and very enjoyable. I can warmly recommend the I3C-S for anyone looking for a neutral sounding IEM.



To sum up.
The good: great overall sound, great build quality, probably the most extensive accessory pack on the market
The bad: nothing really.

Verdict: Dunu has once again done it, the I3C-S are one of my absolute favourite IEMs! Highly recommended!





Etymotic


Etymotic hf3 headset



First of all, thank you to advancedmp3players.co.uk for making this review possible.

Specs.
Single balanced armature
Frequency range: 20Hz – 15KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
Microphone and call/music control
Price: £116.99
Colours: Black, red or blue



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent. The housing is made of plastic, the cable is 120cm and it terminates in a 45 degree jack. The cable is rubber coated and very solid feeling.
The included accessories are, two pairs of silicone sleeves (three flanged, S and L) one pair of foam sleeves and one pair of “glider” sleeves, filter removal tool and extra filters, and a soft pouch. Not bad at all.

Comfort and fit.
The hf3’s are about average both weight and size wise. They can be worn either with the cable running over the ear or straight down. Isolation from ambient noise is excellent, and this leads to the comfort, they are very deep inserting and as such can be quite painful for unfamiliar users. Microphonic noise is well under control and it can be fully eliminated by wearing the cable over the ear.



Sound quality.
The most apparent thing you notice once you have inserted the hf3’s is the isolation, you are totally cut off from the surrounding noise. This in turn means that you can turn the volume down and still be able to hear the music perfectly fine.
The hf3’s use a single balanced armature, but they do not sound flat or lifeless in any way. The sound is best described as accurate and neutral, with great detail all over the audible spectrum.
The bass is very tight and fast and natural sounding, the mids are clean, clear and analytical, and the highs are very crisp and full of micro detail. The soundstage is below average, due to the deep insertion and high isolation, but very well presented.

My test tracks sound very nice, the hf3’s reveals details that other IEM’s in this price range cannot do, which is very nice and adds a nearly “personal touch” to the presentation. Overall presentation is more like a small venue, intimate and sometimes crowded, but well performed and very natural and true to life.



To sum up.
The good: class-leading isolation, great sound with lots of detail.
The bad: deep insertion may be uncomfortable for some.

Verdict: once you get used to the deep insertion, the isolation and sound really lifts the hf3’s to great heights. Highly recommended.





Fidue

Fidue A83





Specs.
Hybrid, 10mm dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers
Frequency range: 9 Hz – 31 KHz
Impedance: 11 Ohm
Sensitivity: 104 dB/mW
Price: $350



Build quality and accessories.
Let me start by saying the A83 looks stunning in the flesh. The build quality is very good, with the housing made of high quality plastic, in an ergonomic shape that fits perfectly in your ears. The braided, and replaceable 130 cm long cable is one of the best cables I have seen on any IEM.
The included accessories are; three pairs of single flange silicone sleeves (S, M and L), two pairs of dual flange silicone sleeves (S and L) and a pair of foam sleeves, a 6.3mm adapter, an airline adapter and finally the excellent hard case.



Comfort and fit.
The A83s are slightly bigger and heavier than average, but the comfort is very good thanks to the ergonomic design and the shallow insertion. Isolation from ambient noise is on par with a good dynamic IEM, but falls short of a BA one, this is not a shortcoming of the A83 though, but a normal trade off for a dynamic IEM. The A83 is to be worn with the cable over the ear, and this means the microphonic noise from the cable is nearly non-existent.
If I was to have a small complaint, or a wish for future versions, a chin slider on the cable would be really nice for an even better fit.



Sound quality.
As with all dynamic speakers the A83 need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.

Once settled the A83 offer a natural sound that reminds me of the old time loudness setting, which slightly elevates the highs and the lows. In other words, a fullbodied dynamic sound with great bass, a midrange that is ever so slightly in the background and a sparkling top. The soundstage is big, with very good imaging and instrument separation.

One of the best things about the A83 is that the very high quality low end does not colour the rest of the sound, it doesn't bleed into the midrange and mud things up. This for me is a real heaven sent, finally I can enjoy the full on attack of bass and still hear all the fine detail higher up. Excellent work Fidue!

My test tracks sound exquisite, from the hard hitting bassline in Shadow Of The Day by Linkin Park, to the delicate and airy I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You by Tom Waits, and as a matter of fact, I have fallen in love with the marvellous Fidue A83.



To sum up.
The good: top tier sound, great build quality, perfect cable, excellent hard case.
The bad: there could be a chin slider on the cable.

Verdict: One of the best IEMs I have heard. Highly recommended!





Fiio


Fiio F5





Specs.
Dynamic driver: 13.6mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 40KHz
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
RRP: $64.99

Build quality and accessories.
The build quality is very good, with a matte black aluminium housing. The cables are detachable and comes with a standard MMCX connector in the housing, one standard cable and one balanced. There is also a microphone and call/audio controls on the standard cable, and it has a switch on the module so it works with Android as well as iPhone. Very clever thinking there!
The included accessories are, six pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L), two cables (2.5mm balanced and 3.5mm standard) and a very nice hard case.
A big plus for the balanced cable and the excellent case!



Comfort and fit.
The F5s are half in ears, a mix of deep inserting IEMs and shallow fit earbuds. They are quite large, but not more than average weight. Thanks to the shallow fit, the comfort is very good. Because of the shallow fit, isolation is only average (which can be a good thing as well). Microphonic noise from the cable is about average.



Sound quality.
Keep in mind that the F5s need a little time to settle, or burn in, to sound their best.
Once settled in they offer a powerful, yet surprisingly neutral sound. One could say that they have an analogue ‘loudness’ kind of sound to them.
The bass is strong, without being overly dominating and it reaches quite deep, the mids are detailed and overall clear and well presented, the highs are sparkly without being sibilant, thanks to a slow roll-off. The soundstage is on the bigger side of things, with well presented imaging and sense of space.

With the balanced 2.5mm cable everything tightens up and becomes more expansive. But what does the balanced cable actually do?
A balanced signal reduces stereo crosstalk, which increases channel separation and the perceived soundstage. A balanced signal also reduces external interference to the signal, increasing the signal to noise ratio. All this gives a tighter, more controlled sound and a larger, more defined soundstaging.

My test tracks sound very good, well controlled, full of detail and presented with that very nice analogue feeling. For the asking price, the F5 is definitely worth to check out, a real hidden gem.



To sum up.
The good: the sound, the balanced cable, the hard case, Android/iPhone switch, the value.
The bad: at this price nothing.

Verdict: Fiio have made a really great little earphone in the F5, and they throw in a balanced cable so you can really get the best out of them. Highly recommended.





Fischer Audio


Fischer Audio A'leph





Specs.
Single dynamic driver
Frequency range: 16Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 18Ohm
Sensitivity: 104dB/mW
Colour: Titanium
RRP: $24

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of plastic and the cable is 125cm/50in, with a (nearly) 90 degree jack. The cable is a bit plasticky, but still not too stiff, and it does soften from use.
The included accessories are, four pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L and double flanges). Everything needed, but still a pouch would have been nice.

Comfort and fit.
The A’lephs are light and about average size, and very comfortable to wear even for longer periods. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Isolation from ambient noise is above average, there are some microphonic noises but nothing too bad and wearing the cable over the ear reduces them to a minimum.

Sound quality.
Even though the A’leph is a dynamic speaker IEM, I did not notice any bigger changes in sound during the burn in. They have a very analogue sound, warm and lively with a tight and natural bass, a smooth and textured mid range, and highs that are crisp without being harsh. All this in a soundstage that is very wide and expansive. The analogue and pleasing warmth is very nice sounding and one can listen to them for hours on end, without any fatigue. The detail in the overall sound is impressive for a dynamic IEM in this price range.
The A’leph will make all music styles sound lively and enjoyable, with their analogue sound nicely wrapped into a large soundstage, they make for a great listening experience that soon will have you tapping along to the music. It can also be noted that they respond well to the use of DSP’s and EQ’s.



To sum up.
The good: excellent analogue sound, build quality, design.
The bad: maybe a few more accessories?

Verdict: great sound and stunning design, what more can one ask for? Highly recommended!



Fischer Audio Eterna



Specs.
Single dynamic driver
Frequency range: 8Hz – 22KHz
Impedance: 18Ohm
Sensitivity: 110dB/mW
Colour: Black/silver
RRP: $67

Build quality and accessories.
The build quality is very good. Just as the A’leph, the housing is made of plastic and the cable is 125cm/50in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable itself is thicker than the one of the A’leph but it has the same plasticky, yet not too stiff feel to it.
The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M and double flanges), earhooks and a soft pouch.

Comfort and fit.
The Eterna’s are light even if they are quite large. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear. Isolation from ambient noise is good and microphonic noise is minimal thanks to the thick cable and the way of wearing them.

Sound quality.
Just as the A’leph, I did not notice any bigger changes in sound during the burn in of the Eterna.
They sound just as involving as the A’leph, but more powerful. The bass is tight and full of energy, the mids are lively and very smooth, the highs are crisp without ever sounding harsh or sibilant. The soundstage is even bigger than the one on A’leph, which is very impressive. The warm yet powerful sound is very pleasing and easy to listen to, for very long periods of time without any fatigue. The detail in the overall sound is good, but the A’leph and especially the Eterna were not made for monitoring and critical listening, they are purely for the real enjoyment of listening to good music. Eterna also respond well to the use of DSP’s and EQ’s.
I have said this only once before, with the Audio Technica ATH-CK10, and now I can say it again in slightly different words, please excuse me while I rediscover the fun and musicality in my digital music library.



To sum up.
The good: powerful and excellent analogue sound, build quality, comfort and design.
The bad: a hard case would be nice.

Verdict: excellent sound quality, nice design and great comfort. Highly recommended!!





HifiMan



HifiMan RE1 (Dragon)





Specs.
Single dynamic driver 9 mm
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 18 KHz
Impedance: 150 Ohm
Sensitivity: 103 dB/mW
Price: $79
Colours: Gold/Black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the 140 cm long cable, with its 90 degree jack is cloth/nylon covered. The included accessories are, five pairs of silicone sleeves (3 single and 2 dual flange) four extra filters (for the nozzle opening, to protect the drivers from wax builds), a shirt clip and a leather hard case. Not bad at all.

Comfort and fit.
The RE1’s are light even if they are quite large, Comfort is excellent due to the various sleeves provided, the isolation is average due to the open back design. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be minimized with the clip and by wearing the cable over your ears.

Sound quality.
One thing to keep in mind with the RE1’s is the massive 150 Ohm impedance, compared with the “normal” 16 Ohm. This means that they are harder to drive than your average IEM, but it also means that they do not have a trace of hiss or any other background digital noise.
The RE1’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a very detailed and natural sound with great separation and soundstaging. The bass is tight and very controlled, the mids are smooth and the highs are crisp. Thanks to the open back design the soundstage is bigger than average, and with a strong signal the soundstage grows considerably.
The detail is astonishing for a dynamic IEM, and the natural and open sound can convince you to forget that they are IEM’s. The bass, while being very accurate and well balanced may not be enough for most bass addicts, but the detail and soundstaging on the other hand will surprise even the most demanding of listeners. Overall the sound is well suited for most music tastes, thanks to the natural and neutral presentation of the RE1’s.
The key, though, is to feed them with a powerful signal, and they will deliver.

To sum up.
The good: detailed and natural sound, great comfort, they are hiss-free.
The bad: not necessarily bad at all, but the 150 Ohm is quite demanding on the source.

Verdict: the RE1’s offer a very good overall sound, feed them with a strong signal and they will reward you in a way you would never expect from this price point. I do highly recommend them.





HifiMan RE262





Specs.
Single dynamic driver 9 mm
Frequency range: n/a
Impedance: 150 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW
Price: $249
Colours: Black

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality seems very good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the 130 cm long cable, with its 90 degree jack has a nice rubbery feeling to it. The included accessories are, five pairs of silicone sleeves (3 single and 2 dual flange), five pairs of extra filters (for the nozzle opening, to protect the drivers from wax builds), a shirt clip and a plastic hard case. Not bad at all, but not overly generous either.



Comfort and fit.
The RE262’s are light and about average size. Comfort is excellent due to the various sleeves provided, the isolation is very good. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. There are some microphonic noises, but they can be minimized with the clip and by wearing the cable over the ear.

(What I have found out is that by swapping the earbuds, left -> right and vice versa the comfort and fit is excellent for over the ear wearing. This unfortunately also swaps the stereo image, but that can be fixed by soldering a new 3.5mm jack on the cable with cables reversed)

Sound quality.
The RE262’s 150 Ohm impedance means that they are harder to drive than your average IEM, but it also means that they do not have a trace of hiss or any other background digital noise.
The RE262’s require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best. Once settled they offer a very detailed and slightly warm sound with great separation and soundstaging. The bass is very tight and controlled, the mids are the best I have heard in an IEM, and the highs are crisp but a tad in the background. The soundstage is big and very 3D, the music surrounds you in a way I have never felt from an IEM before. The detail is superb for a dynamic IEM.
The strongest point of the RE262’s are the buttery smooth mids that lets the music flow effortlessly like petrol flows into a V8 when pushing the loud pedal, and the gloriously big and surrounding soundstage. The sound they produce is nothing short of stunning, and my test tracks sounded spacious and so smooth, I warmly recommend you to listen to Dark Side Of the Moon with these, it will open up new dimensions. Seriously though, I cannot praise the sound qualities of the RE262’s enough, they are excellent, full stop.

To sum up.
The good: the buttery smooth mids, the excellent soundstage, superb allround sound quality, comfort, totally hiss- and digital noise free, price for this level of sound quality.
The bad: not necessarily bad at all, but the 150 Ohm is quite demanding on the source, may require some DIY for optimum fit and sound.

Verdict: the RE262’s offer $400+ sound for $249. Very highly recommended!!!




Hippo

Hippo 10





Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 10mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 23KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity:110dB/mW
RRP: $70


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 130cm, with a 90 degree jack. The cable is very nice and one of the best I have seen and used, especially the jack is excellent.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue, a clip and a soft pouch. The red/blue sleeves are very good, as they make the right/left channel so easily recognisable.


Comfort and fit.
The 10’s are light and above average sized. They are to be worn with the cable running straight down, even if they can be used over the ear too, but the design is for straight down use only. They are a combination of IEM’s and an earbud, the sleeve is inside the earcanal, while the rest of the earphone rests in the outer ear. This gives a very good comfort and a isolation that is so much better than normal earbuds. Microphonics can be reduced with the clip.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The 10’s offer a natural and neutral sound. The high quality bass is very natural and more of a sub-bass than a thumping mid-bass, mids are detailed and smooth, the highs are natural and very nice. The soundstage is big and expansive. The natural and neutral sound reminds me of the Hippo VB, they share the same deep bass and natural presentation.
My test tracks sound very natural and true to life, without becoming boring or flat, the 10’s bring out the dynamics of the music in a way that not many IEM’s can.

To sum up.
The good: very good and natural sound with real sub-bass, red/blue sleeves, great cable.
The bad: the half IEM/half earbud style may not fit everyone, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: excellent sound. Highly recommended.


Hippo Groove





Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 10mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 18Ohm
Sensitivity:88dB/mW
RRP: $38


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of plastic and what appears to be a metal compound, the cable is 135cm, with a straight jack. The cable is quite plasticky and it suffers slightly from microphonic noise.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and black, and a soft pouch. The red/blue sleeves are very good, as they make the right/left channel so easily recognisable.

Comfort and fit.
The Groove’s are very light and about average size. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Comfort and isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized by running the cable over the ear.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Groove’s are bass driven and offer a very powerful sound. The bass is very dominant yet well behaved, mids are fairly detailed and smooth even if they are a little in the background, the highs are also put in the background and they don’t really sparkle, but that also means that they never become sibilant or harsh. The soundstage is bigger than average. While the Groove is not for everyone, with the prominent bass and recessed mids and highs, I really like the relaxed and powerful sound they produce.
As expected my test tracks sound very beefy and engaging to listen to, fun, is the word to describe the sound qualities of the Hippo Groove.


To sum up.
The good: very powerful, relaxed and great sound for the price, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat plasticky cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: warm and fun sound, to a very good price. Recommended.


Hippo Pearl





Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 9mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 106dB/mW
RRP: $43

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the cable is 140cm/55in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable seems to be the same as used on the VB’s, i.e. quite plasticky and microphonic, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in blue and red, a soft pouch and a shirtclip. Everything needed to use them, but not that generous.

Comfort and fit.
The Pearls are light and about average size. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Isolation from ambient noise is average and microphonic noise can be minimized when wearing the cable over the ear..

Sound quality.
As nearly all dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Pearls have a very neutral/natural sound that does not really emphasize on any part of the audible soundspectrum. Everything is there, the bass is deep and fast, mids are smooth and detailed and the highs are sparkly without being too bright. The soundstage is slightly above average. They sound very pleasing to the ear, and can be used for hours on end without any fatigue. The Pearls are well suited for any music really, the nearly “flat” response allowes the music to sound natural, as it was intended by the artist. This also means that they are very bassy with the right sort of music, without sacrificing the mids and highs, bassheads rejoice. Being nearly flat also means that they respond very well to the use of EQ and DSP.

To sum up.
The good: neutral and overall very good sound, build quality, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat noisy cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: for the price they offer a very good and neutral sound. Recommended.


Hippo Shroom





Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 6mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB/mW
RRP: $57
Also available as Shroom-i, with built in mic, for iPhone and BlackBerry

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 130cm/51in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable seems to be the same as on the VB and Pearl, i.e. quite plasticky and microphonic, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, six pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and black, a pouch. The sleeves are very good, especially the different coloured ones make the right/left channel so easily recognizable.

Comfort and fit.
The Shrooms are light and small. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Comfort is excellent, due to the very small form factor. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized thanks to the clip and cable over the ear way of wearing them.

Sound quality.
This is from the official announcement: “The Shroom design philosophy is different from the usual earphone. It uses a very small driver/speaker mounted way up front so the distance to the ear is as short as possible. The shorter path eliminates sound diffusion. The noise isolation also improves as a result of the deeper insertion”
Sounds good, and the Shrooms do deliver.
Remember to give them time to burn in before passing judgement. Once settled they offer a dynamic yet very detailed and balanced sound, with great detail and a clear mids focus. They offer a tight bass, with quality over quantity, that blends in perfectly with the rest of the soundspectrum, the mids are smooth, detailed and forward, the highs are crisp if slightly in the background, and finally the soundstage is big and very wide. The Shroom suits all music styles, and will make them sound lively and natural, but especially vocal and acoustic music is very well presented. I can also confirm that they respond well to the use of EQ and DSP, if needed.
The Shrooms offer a detail that is exceptional in a dynamic IEM, and in this price bracket simply astonishing! They seem to have the best from both worlds, the detail of a balanced armature and the fun factor of a dynamic driver. The Shrooms are among my absolute favourite IEM’s.


To sum up.
The good: superb detail and excellent sound, build quality, design, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat noisy cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: they offer stylish design and a sound quality that shames many of the much more expensive offerings on the market. Highly recommended!!





Hippo Shroom EB




Shroom original in red and EB in black.


Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 6mm
Frequency range: 10Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB/mW
RRP: $57
Also available as Shroom (original) and Shroom-i, with built in mic, for iPhone and BlackBerry

The Shroom EB is identical with the original Shroom in everything except for the sound, so the first two parts are lifted from the review of the original version.

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is good. The housing is made of high quality plastic and the cable is 130cm/51in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable seems to be the same as on the Hippo Shroom, i.e. a plasticky compound that suffers slightly from microphonic noise, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and black and a pouch. The sleeves are very good, especially the different coloured ones make the right/left channel so easily recognizable.
For some reason the red/blue sleeves were of a different type and did not really fit the earphones on my test unit, this may well be an error on a small batch and should not be considered a fault as such. The black sleeves fit perfectly.

Comfort and fit.
The Shrooms are light and small. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. Comfort is excellent, due to the very small form factor. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized thanks to the clip and cable over the ear way of wearing them.

Sound quality.
This is what I said about the original Shrooms: “The Shrooms offer a detail that is exceptional in a dynamic IEM, and in this price bracket simply astonishing! They seem to have the best from both worlds, the detail of a balanced armature and the fun factor of a dynamic driver. The Shrooms are among my absolute favourite IEM’s”.
Just like the originals the EB’s need time to sound their best, once settled they offer the same incredible (for a dynamic IEM) detail and clarity, with added bass.
The tight bass is very high quality and there is a fair bit of it as well, mids are smooth, forward and very detailed, highs are crisp and clear, yet a little in the background, and the soundstage is bigger than average, by quite a margin. The sound is never dark or muddy, but very detailed and full of low end energy that really lifts the sound to a whole new level.
Excellent sound for the price!


To sum up.
The good: superb detail and very good bass, excellent sound for the price, build quality, design, comfort, red/blue sleeves (when the error is sorted).
The bad: somewhat noisy cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: just like the originals the EB’s offer stylish design and a powerful sound of a high quality that shames many of the much more expensive offerings on the market. Highly recommended!!



Hippo VB





Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 10mm, with variable bass plates
Frequency range: 18Hz – 22KHz
Impedance: 32Ohm
Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
RRP: $79

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the cable is 140cm/55in, with a 90 degree jack. The cable is quite plasticky and microphonic, yet soft and smooth with a good quality feel to it.
The included accessories are, three pairs of different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L), three different bass tuning plates a hard case and a shirtclip. All in all a generous amount of accessories.

Comfort and fit.
The VB’s are light even if they are fairly big. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear, as well as straight down. Comfort is high for my ears, but be warned that the stem is rather thick/large, so small ears may suffer. Isolation from ambient noise is average and the microphonic noise can be minimized thanks to the clip and wearing them with the cable over the ear.

Sound quality.
Being a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best, they may sound harsh if not burned in properly. Once settled the VB’s offer three different sound signatures. Changing the bass plates you can achieve a very warm/bassy sound from the dotless plate, a more natural/neutral sound from the two-dot plate and finally a nearly analytical sound from the three-dot plate. This is the exact opposite to what is described on the box, must be a mix-up at the factory.
My personal favourite is the middle, two-dotted plate, which gives a quite natural sound with good detail in the mids and highs as well as providing plenty of energy in the lower, without overpowering or sounding muddy. The soundstage is big on all three bass plates, but slightly wider on the bssiest and narrower on the most analytical. With the VB’s everyone should be able to find a sound signature that suits your personal preferences. They also respond well to EQ and DSP, if that would be necessary.

To sum up.
The good: user changeable sound signature, overall sound quality, build quality.
The bad: the nozzles/stems may be uncomfortable for small ears, somewhat noisy cable, not easily available.

Verdict: freedom of choice is always a good thing, and with the VB’s you get three different sounding IEM’s in one. They look stylish and sound good. Recommended.


Hippo White





Specs.
Single dynamic driver, 9mm
Frequency range: 20Hz – 23KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity:108dB/mW
RRP: $45


Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal, the cable is 135cm, with a straight jack. The cable seems to be the same as on the Groove, i.e. quite plasticky and also slightly suffering from microphonic noise.
The included accessories are, different sized silicone sleeves (S, M, L) in red/blue and white, and a soft pouch. The red/blue sleeves are very good, as they make the right/left channel so easily recognisable.

Comfort and fit.
The Whites are very light and about average size. They can be worn with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. They are very comfortable to wear, even for longer listening sessions. Isolation from ambient noise is very good and microphonic noise can be minimized by wearing the cable over the ear.

Sound quality.
As a dynamic IEM they require time to settle (burn in) to sound their best.
The Whites offer a warm and powerful analogue sound. The bass is strong with good quality, mids are fairly detailed and smooth and naturally audible, the highs are slightly in the background but still very nice and clear. The soundstage is open and nicely layered. The pleasing analogue warmth sounds very nice and involving. I can listen to them for hours on end without any fatigue, or without wanting or needing anything more, they seem to have a very good balance of fun and detail retrieval in their presentation.
My test tracks sound very lively and nice, the analogue and wam sound is soothing for the ears and I can fully enjoy the music.


To sum up.
The good: pleasing analogue sound, design and build quality, red/blue sleeves.
The bad: somewhat plasticky cable, not easily available to buy.

Verdict: very nice sound and well built. Highly recommended.