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Review of SIDY DM2 HiFi in-ear headphones with DIY filters and MIC w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of SIDY DM2 HiFi in-ear headphones with MIC. http://penonaudio.com/SIDY-DM2
After my recent review of Xiaomi Piston headphones, I made a point about being careful where you buy your headphones from, no matter how much they cost (even $25 original headphones have fake versions). Since I was only able to provide a trusted link on Amazon US to purchase Pistons, I received a lot of inquires asking about where to get these outside of US. The store I highly recommended was http://www.penonaudio.com (also, they have eBay store http://stores.ebay.com/bigbargainonline). These guys sell everything legit, they are an authorized distributor for most of the products in their store which also means a valid manufacturer warranty, and overall provide a great support and excellent shipping service with very careful packaging. But what is most important - they offer a lot of rare headphone gems from Asian manufacturers at a very reasonable discounted prices. Instead of doing my own research for the next pair of in-ear headphones to review, I put my trust into their hands and asked Penonaudio to give me their recommendation. Now after I received DM2 - I couldn't be happier because this is one pair of amazing headphones with DIY bonus I haven't seen before. Let's take a closer look.
This time I was a little less surprised with a tin can packaging box DM2 arrived in since I experience similar one from Astrotec I reviewed before. I still think its a great way to present your product and to ensure the packaging box will be used later since you can find a lot of great uses for a tin can. Inside, beside headphones itself, SIDY included a very impressive collection of eartip accessories, interchangeable duct filters, and a pair of soft silicone earhooks for behind-the-ear fitment. It's always great to have a selection of eartips to make sure you find the best fitment to ensure a perfect seal - #1 contributing factor to get the best sound! Here they included 2 pairs of double flange tips, 3 pairs of S/M/L regular wide opening eartips, and 3 pairs of S/M/L original narrow opening Audio-Technica branded eartips. 2 other pairs were used for extra duct filter "packaging". Typically, that's all that you get for tweaking the sound - different sizes for your ear fitment and going between wide and narrow opening to change the sound signature. With SIDY DM2 there is a little surprise which adds DIY capability to change the sound even further. Included are 3 pairs of interchangeable filter ducts, color coded for different sound characteristic. These filter ducts are threaded on one side and securely screw into the shell of earpieces. Red one - designated for a balanced sound, Black one - for enhanced bass sound, and Silver one - for mid-centric sound. I do have to note that Silver duct was included with my pair of DM2, but moving forward I was informed it probably not going to be included with a package due to a sound signature which is not necessary a desirable one (I will not go into too much details, just that it cuts too much of low frequency content).
I will talk about the sound a little bit later, but for now let look more into the design of these headphones. Without a doubt DIY bonus is very unique, but so does the design shape of these earpieces. With a solid metal housing, these have a very interesting shape which obviously contributes to internal acoustics of the sound. At the same time, the tapered down shape can feel a bit slippery between your fingers when you insert these into your ears. Another less favorable comment, I wish they should have a little longer strain relief of the cable at the earpiece. OK, those are probably the ONLY two critical comments I have about these headphones - everything else is done to a perfection! DM2 comes in two variants, one with MIC/phone control and OFC cable and the other one for audio only with Silver wires cable (the one I got). Cable insulation is made with a durable TPE material, where cable is not too thin, a bit springy, tangle free, and with no microphonics. I was a bit surprised there was no chin slider, especially on Silver audio cable version, but I can live without it. 3.5mm plug is gold plated and 270deg angled for convenience. Though I haven't tested MIC version of the cable, I'm sure it has multifunction button for play/pause/call and Android/iOS phone/playback controls.
Now comes the fun part - sound test! I already mentioned about silver duct and will not go into more details since most likely it will not be included in future shipments (no loss here). Black filter duct added substantial amount of sub-bass rumble to satisfy even a basshead demand, but of course you have to pay a price of a little bloated low end and reduction in mids level due to overpowering bass. But once you move to a Red filter duct - you are rewarded with a sound heaven!!! I found the best combination that worked for me was with Audio-Technica largest tips. I didn't even have to do too much of burn-in, 4-5hr of running a pink loop sealed a deal for me! DM2 has a perfectly balanced warm transparent sound I heard in a while! Starting with a low end, even with red duct you get an enhanced bass quantity extended down to sub-bass layer and a fast punchy mid-bass. It's very well controlled, detailed, and separated without spilling or overpowering mids, and actually got a bit tighter even after a short burn-in. Mids are very well detailed and sound natural. I absolutely love the clarity of upper mids and top end which makes vocals sounds very clear, lush, and natural. Not too bright or pushed back, in my opinion these headphones are definitely not v-shaped (despite fun factor of enhanced bass quantity). Treble is very detailed and clear as well, not too bright yet still with a pleasant sparkle, very easy on your ears without fatigue while listening for extended period. Definitely don't have to worry about sibilance, the sound is very smooth. And if that wasn't enough, the soundstage is quite wide with a detailed instrument placement which is surprising for in-ear headphones. Also, it was equally easy to drive it from a dedicated DAP and my Note 2.
Overall, I was VERY impressed with a sound quality of these in-ear headphones. I know some might think I have "new toy syndrome" hyping these up, but honestly I'm comparing it to other dynamic and multi-driver IEMs that cost hundreds more, and with an exception of sound being not as detailed or a bit thinner, at $65 these stand up to other headphones that cost double or triple as much. I know the Asian market has a bad rep for counterfeits and fake headphones, but at the same time it's filled with small lesser known companies that produce simply amazing and unique headphones that I find to be a true sound gems! SIDY and DM2 is definitely one of them which I highly recommend. And of course, Penonaudio is among top trusted places where you can collect these gems at a very reasonable price!
Here are the pictures.
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Need more comparison to your other IEM

coffemix said:
Need more comparison to your other IEM
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With a current setup of red filter duct and audio-technica largest eartip, it blows out of the water most of the single driver dynamic or single driver balanced armature in-ears I have tested with an exception of RE-400 (regular non-balanced review coming up shortly, since RE-400B was balanced version for HM-700). RE-400 doesn't have as much bass, but has midrange details that I value a lot. Just in two different categories. When it comes to multi-driver BA IEMs, they offer a bit more details, but I can tell you that DM2 comes close to ATH-IM03, though IM03 sound will be thicker and more detailed, but not $300 better.

vectron said:
With a current setup of red filter duct and audio-technica largest eartip, it blows out of the water most of the single driver dynamic or single driver balanced armature in-ears I have tested with an exception of RE-400 (regular non-balanced review coming up shortly, since RE-400B was balanced version for HM-700). RE-400 doesn't have as much bass, but has midrange details that I value a lot. Just in two different categories. When it comes to multi-driver BA IEMs, they offer a bit more details, but I can tell you that DM2 comes close to ATH-IM03, though IM03 sound will be thicker and more detailed, but not $300 better.
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Hi! Thanks for the review. I was considering getting the DUNU DN-1000 but after reading your review i really don't know what to do. I have the X5 too and pairing it with the Phonaks PFE 113 but I found they are lacking bass with the X5. So i'm looking for a nicely balanced sound but with some good bass. Any suggestion, please? Thanks!

addsfsds said:
Hi! Thanks for the review. I was considering getting the DUNU DN-1000 but after reading your review i really don't know what to do. I have the X5 too and pairing it with the Phonaks PFE 113 but I found they are lacking bass with the X5. So i'm looking for a nicely balanced sound but with some good bass. Any suggestion, please? Thanks!
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Ciao, man! Just replied to you on head-fi in X5 thread Hopefully "mochill" in there will be able to chime in since I believe he has DN1k, but honest DM2 is a great value and sound fantastic.

vectron said:
Ciao, man! Just replied to you on head-fi in X5 thread Hopefully "mochill" in there will be able to chime in since I believe he has DN1k, but honest DM2 is a great value and sound fantastic.
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Click to collapse
Ciao!! Thanks for the replies, I prefer to continue here as the X5 thread is a bit too much crowded Mochill came in and now i'm confused about what he said in various Ostry kc06A (the new variant) threads.. Can you please tell me a bit more about the DM2 (paired with the X5) and the bass response? I still love my PFE but bass is very weak, they sound too flat now :\ I just need some punchy bass and i'll be happy

addsfsds said:
Ciao!! Thanks for the replies, I prefer to continue here as the X5 thread is a bit too much crowded Mochill came in and now i'm confused about what he said in various Ostry kc06A (the new variant) threads.. Can you please tell me a bit more about the DM2 (paired with the X5) and the bass response? I still love my PFE but bass is very weak, they sound too flat now :\ I just need some punchy bass and i'll be happy
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There not going to be a limit to variants because of all these great little budget headphones As I mentioned before, IM03 is my favorite IEM right now, but it's very pricey. DM2 is a great budget alternative. It has a nicely balanced sound and a mid-bass hump which results in a fast driving bass punch. You also get bass extension down to sub-level with a nice texture, but it's not overpowering. It pairs up nicely with X5, but keep in mind with fw1.2 it will sound a little warmer and with fw2.0 update it will be a bit more cleaner (I hope FiiO will find some happy medium in fw2.1 lol!!!). Regarding Ostry KC06, a lot of people are raving about it. I should have KC06 sometime next week, and also I should receive KC06A sometime in June (their first production batch was sold out within a week, they have to manufacture 2nd batch now). If you can wait a month, I will be able to compare DM2 to KC06 and KC06A. I'm also waiting for MOE-SS01, supposed to be the same as one of those JVC in-ears.

vectron said:
There not going to be a limit to variants because of all these great little budget headphones As I mentioned before, IM03 is my favorite IEM right now, but it's very pricey. DM2 is a great budget alternative. It has a nicely balanced sound and a mid-bass hump which results in a fast driving bass punch. You also get bass extension down to sub-level with a nice texture, but it's not overpowering. It pairs up nicely with X5, but keep in mind with fw1.2 it will sound a little warmer and with fw2.0 update it will be a bit more cleaner (I hope FiiO will find some happy medium in fw2.1 lol!!!). Regarding Ostry KC06, a lot of people are raving about it. I should have KC06 sometime next week, and also I should receive KC06A sometime in June (their first production batch was sold out within a week, they have to manufacture 2nd batch now). If you can wait a month, I will be able to compare DM2 to KC06 and KC06A. I'm also waiting for MOE-SS01, supposed to be the same as one of those JVC in-ears.
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Hey man, this sounds just so good!! I'm really looking forward to read about your comparisons, it seems like we both like the same sound signature from what I read and the IM03 are the IEM i really wanted to get but i can't Paid 30 minutes ago for my university fees, no more money for months
If you want to get the KC06A earlier you could use mistertao.com Cheers!!!!!

addsfsds said:
Hey man, this sounds just so good!! I'm really looking forward to read about your comparisons, it seems like we both like the same sound signature from what I read and the IM03 are the IEM i really wanted to get but i can't Paid 30 minutes ago for my university fees, no more money for months
If you want to get the KC06A earlier you could use mistertao.com Cheers!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm all about commercial EDM (Avicii, Afrojack, Showtek, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, R3hab, Mike Candys, etc.). So it's mostly synthesized music with a powerful beats and vocals. I like enhanced bass (a little of sub-bass rumble for a nice low end texture) and mid-bass hump to get that strong beat with a fast attack. And I'm moving away from v-shaped sound signature since I want to hear vocals loud and clear. So, I'm trying to focus mostly on balanced in-ears with bass enhancement (but not basshead type).
DM2 fits that signature. Just keep in mind, they do have a slightly odd shape which could be slippery toward the end of the shell (due to narrowing down) - but overall you can leave with that. Just have to be careful with a cable because strain relied is shorter.
Regarding Ostry, I was actually contacted by them directly, and they are sending me review samples. KC06 is available right now, while KC06A has to wait for a second batch. I have done so many headphones reviews (check out my signature link with all the reviews I have done on XDA), and post across so many different websites - I get contacted by a lot of companies asking me to review their products, but as you can see it's a lot of work (don't want anybody to think reviews are just a way to get free stuff).

I'm mostly into Rock, Jazz and live recordings (Beatles, Muse, Black Keys, Franz Ferdinand, EST etc) and i like a balanced sound with some bass "action", i'm annoyed at how the PFEs sounds "boring" paired with the X5, that's why i need a more "fun" IEM
I'm really intrigued by these DM2 and i think I'll eventually get them when I'll get some money, the comparison with the IM03 is just too tempting!
I read a lot of your reviews so I know who you are And it's great to see that the time spent reviewing is rewarded with samples! It must be absolutely great to have the chance to listen to all these beauties! And I really can't wait to read the comparisons between the Ostrys!
My IEM story is pretty short.. I started feeling the need of something better in 2003-2004 (I was 16 years old) and bought my first IEMS, the Koss sparkplugs ( that farting bass! xD), then bought my first "strange" pair after 2 years, the Crossroads MylarOne XB, i've been in love with them so much! Then, after a lot of years, bought the PFE 113 in 2010 as my personal graduation gift, i love them so much! The year after (thanks to head.fi xD) i also bought the Panasonic RP-HJE900. Those were some bad ass and fun to hear IEM! End of the story. I still have all of them in working order but the Panas..While in China, I went to the gym, then went home to the campus and washed the pants with the poor babies and let them soak overnight..the result was a faulty right channel...It broke my heart that I couldn't buy them back!
Sorry about the long story Have a good day!

Quick update: After reading mochill changed his idea and all the hype around and after reading that a user said they sound like a refined with more bass version of the PFE 112, I just ordered the tenores! I think I'll still get the DM 2 as I'm having a summer job and these IEMs are not as expensive as shures and others so i can afford to buy another pair..damn head-fi xD

addsfsds said:
Quick update: After reading mochill changed his idea and all the hype around and after reading that a user said they sound like a refined with more bass version of the PFE 112, I just ordered the tenores! I think I'll still get the DM 2 as I'm having a summer job and these IEMs are not as expensive as shures and others so i can afford to buy another pair..damn head-fi xD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which one are these? Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT or something else?

vectron said:
Which one are these? Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT or something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are exactly the Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT, on amazon.com i found them for $49 shipped, couldn't resists having a bit of money left on the prepaid card

addsfsds said:
They are exactly the Zero Audio Tenore ZH-DX200-CT, on amazon.com i found them for $49 shipped, couldn't resists having a bit of money left on the prepaid card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not bad shipped to Italy. Btw, that Amazon review is too much fun. When you read through all the comment afterwards, it's like a head-fi discussion on Amazon lol!!!

Review of SIDY DM3 in-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of SIDY DM3 in-ear headphones. http://penonaudio.com/BGVP-SIDY-DM3
One thing I found fascinating with the original SIDY DM2 model was the ability to shape the sound by swapping different nozzles. Among some of the advantages of in-ear headphones, in comparison to full size ones, is how easy we can fine tune the sound by swapping eartips (tip rolling). Of course, you can also change the audio source, from brighter to warmer signature, and in some cases play around with removing a filter from the nozzle (if you are an adventurous type and don't mind voiding the warranty). But tip rolling is the easiest way to adjust the sound to your liking, in addition to improvement in sound isolation. In case of SIDY's new DM3 model it had almost the same effect as changing nozzle filters. Here is what I found.
I have to tell you that SIDY really stepped up to the plate with their latest releases in terms of packaging and presentation of the product. I like when a company takes a pride in presentation, and with DM3 release SIDY followed footsteps of their recently released flagship DGS100 hybrid IEM with an identical packaging. You get a tin square box with their new logo marking, which from a distance kind of reminds me of Wu-Tang Clan symbol Inside of the box you get a high quality hard zipper case, a pair of over-ear wire guides, and 4 sets of S/M/L eartips including foam one and different color silicones. It's great to have a set of foam tips since these are a lot nicer than Comply (softer and faster to re-shape in your ear), but I do have a gripe with silicone tips since they are redundant with a same semi-narrow bore opening. As I found out later, the narrow versus wide bore opening of the eartips makes a night and day difference in sound shaping of DM3 where a narrow one will give you more bass while attenuating higher frequencies, almost making sound signature to be L-shaped, while the wide bore opening tip settles down the bass and brings up upper mids for a more balanced sound. Is this a show stopper? Absolutely not because wide bore tips are easy to come by, and I wanted to bring this to everyone's attention because my review is based solely on using wide bore tips to get SIDY's signature mid-bass hump under control!
In addition to quality packaging, SIDY also paid a lot of attention to a design of their new shell. Featuring a solid metal lightweight alloy material, this is not just a plain cylindrical shell, but a shaped fixture with a nice design touches of swirling lines. The back of the shell features their signature logo, the top front has a clear L/R marking to ID these symmetrical pieces, and at the bottom behind strain relief there is a pinhole port opening. Strain relief is very sturdy and just a perfect length. Cable has a typical SIDY build quality; thinner round part between earpieces and y-splitter and thicker round part going from a splitter to 270deg 3.5mm gold plated headphone connector with a decent strain relief. Y-splitter is short, with a nice shinny finish, and made out of some alloy material. Chin slider is also in place and comes handy to keep the wires down if you choose to wear these over ear, though they look more natural with wire down. Either way, you get very little cable noise, and the same average sound isolation which going to depend on eartip selection.
So how do these sound? As I mentioned above, the sound will highly depend on selection of eartips and also your source. Using my smartphone and X1 dap, both of which have a warmer sig, and narrow bore tips made sound signature more L-shaped with enhanced bass and slightly recessed mids and rolled off treble. BUT, switching it to a brighter source like X5 or using with an amp (which btw not necessary, only for sound shaping purpose) - yielded a GREAT evenly balanced sound with a smooth melodic signature. Low end has a nice punchy mid-bass with a supporting sub-bass, but not too exaggerated. It's definitely above neutral level, but nowhere near "enhanced" level. Bass is very well controlled (but not as tight) with hardly any spilling into lower mids (keep in mind - wide bore eartips!). Upper mids are clear, smooth, and melodic, though not super detailed. Vocals sound smooth and organic, a little on a warm side and with a nice body. Treble is not as extended and also very smooth, not crispy or peaky. This sound signature is great for extended listening without fatigue. What I really appreciate in here, smooth sounding IEMs usually lack a bass punch, but here you have a very tasteful dose of it. Soundstage has an average width/depth, actually more width than depth. DM3 doesn't require any amping to drive it, only to enhance the sound characteristics if you prefer to. Also, since these are not super detailed, it was quite forgiving when it comes to lower quality audio.
For the reference in comparison to other IEMs, here is a quick rundown. DM3 vs VSD3: VSD3 has faster punch, wider sound, brighter more detailed upper mids and better treble extension. DM3 vs KC06A: KC06A sounds narrower, upper mids harsher/brighter, treble more extend, punchier mid-bass but with less sub-bass. DM3 vs T1E (using wide tip): T1E sounds wider, very similar mid-bass but a bit more sub-bass crunch, upper mids/treble brighter and more detailed. DM3 vs B3 Pro I: B3 has wider sound stage, brighter more detailed upper mids/treble, but less mid-/sub-bass. DM3 vs DGS100: DGS100 has a wider soundstage, more clear/detailed upper mids/treble though a bit more peaky, and bass is more boomy spilling into lower mids.
Overall, I was surprised and impressed with this release at the same time. While using a wide opening eartips, these are great for everyday listening if you like a smooth balanced music sound without too much of booming bass or harsh highs. With other SIDY headphones you don't have as much flexibility in controlling the bass, but using DM3 after 15-20hr burn in yielded great results - definitely a pleasant surprise! Though YMMV, I also think these have a very sexy design, a definite eye candy. I like how they don't overlap with a sound signature of my other headphones and actually contribute something different at a very reasonable price of under $60, a great value considering included accessories.
Here are the pictures.
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vectron said:
This is a review of SIDY DM3 in-ear headphones. http://penonaudio.com/BGVP-SIDY-DM3
One thing I found fascinating with the original SIDY DM2 model was the ability to shape the sound by swapping different nozzles. Among some of the advantages of in-ear headphones, in comparison to full size ones, is how easy we can fine tune the sound by swapping eartips (tip rolling). Of course, you can also change the audio source, from brighter to warmer signature, and in some cases play around with removing a filter from the nozzle (if you are an adventurous type and don't mind voiding the warranty). But tip rolling is the easiest way to adjust the sound to your liking, in addition to improvement in sound isolation. In case of SIDY's new DM3 model it had almost the same effect as changing nozzle filters. Here is what I found.
I have to tell you that SIDY really stepped up to the plate with their latest releases in terms of packaging and presentation of the product. I like when a company takes a pride in presentation, and with DM3 release SIDY followed footsteps of their recently released flagship DGS100 hybrid IEM with an identical packaging. You get a tin square box with their new logo marking, which from a distance kind of reminds me of Wu-Tang Clan symbol Inside of the box you get a high quality hard zipper case, a pair of over-ear wire guides, and 4 sets of S/M/L eartips including foam one and different color silicones. It's great to have a set of foam tips since these are a lot nicer than Comply (softer and faster to re-shape in your ear), but I do have a gripe with silicone tips since they are redundant with a same semi-narrow bore opening. As I found out later, the narrow versus wide bore opening of the eartips makes a night and day difference in sound shaping of DM3 where a narrow one will give you more bass while attenuating higher frequencies, almost making sound signature to be L-shaped, while the wide bore opening tip settles down the bass and brings up upper mids for a more balanced sound. Is this a show stopper? Absolutely not because wide bore tips are easy to come by, and I wanted to bring this to everyone's attention because my review is based solely on using wide bore tips to get SIDY's signature mid-bass hump under control!
In addition to quality packaging, SIDY also paid a lot of attention to a design of their new shell. Featuring a solid metal lightweight alloy material, this is not just a plain cylindrical shell, but a shaped fixture with a nice design touches of swirling lines. The back of the shell features their signature logo, the top front has a clear L/R marking to ID these symmetrical pieces, and at the bottom behind strain relief there is a pinhole port opening. Strain relief is very sturdy and just a perfect length. Cable has a typical SIDY build quality; thinner round part between earpieces and y-splitter and thicker round part going from a splitter to 270deg 3.5mm gold plated headphone connector with a decent strain relief. Y-splitter is short, with a nice shinny finish, and made out of some alloy material. Chin slider is also in place and comes handy to keep the wires down if you choose to wear these over ear, though they look more natural with wire down. Either way, you get very little cable noise, and the same average sound isolation which going to depend on eartip selection.
So how do these sound? As I mentioned above, the sound will highly depend on selection of eartips and also your source. Using my smartphone and X1 dap, both of which have a warmer sig, and narrow bore tips made sound signature more L-shaped with enhanced bass and slightly recessed mids and rolled off treble. BUT, switching it to a brighter source like X5 or using with an amp (which btw not necessary, only for sound shaping purpose) - yielded a GREAT evenly balanced sound with a smooth melodic signature. Low end has a nice punchy mid-bass with a supporting sub-bass, but not too exaggerated. It's definitely above neutral level, but nowhere near "enhanced" level. Bass is very well controlled (but not as tight) with hardly any spilling into lower mids (keep in mind - wide bore eartips!). Upper mids are clear, smooth, and melodic, though not super detailed. Vocals sound smooth and organic, a little on a warm side and with a nice body. Treble is not as extended and also very smooth, not crispy or peaky. This sound signature is great for extended listening without fatigue. What I really appreciate in here, smooth sounding IEMs usually lack a bass punch, but here you have a very tasteful dose of it. Soundstage has an average width/depth, actually more width than depth. DM3 doesn't require any amping to drive it, only to enhance the sound characteristics if you prefer to. Also, since these are not super detailed, it was quite forgiving when it comes to lower quality audio.
For the reference in comparison to other IEMs, here is a quick rundown. DM3 vs VSD3: VSD3 has faster punch, wider sound, brighter more detailed upper mids and better treble extension. DM3 vs KC06A: KC06A sounds narrower, upper mids harsher/brighter, treble more extend, punchier mid-bass but with less sub-bass. DM3 vs T1E (using wide tip): T1E sounds wider, very similar mid-bass but a bit more sub-bass crunch, upper mids/treble brighter and more detailed. DM3 vs B3 Pro I: B3 has wider sound stage, brighter more detailed upper mids/treble, but less mid-/sub-bass. DM3 vs DGS100: DGS100 has a wider soundstage, more clear/detailed upper mids/treble though a bit more peaky, and bass is more boomy spilling into lower mids.
Overall, I was surprised and impressed with this release at the same time. While using a wide opening eartips, these are great for everyday listening if you like a smooth balanced music sound without too much of booming bass or harsh highs. With other SIDY headphones you don't have as much flexibility in controlling the bass, but using DM3 after 15-20hr burn in yielded great results - definitely a pleasant surprise! Though YMMV, I also think these have a very sexy design, a definite eye candy. I like how they don't overlap with a sound signature of my other headphones and actually contribute something different at a very reasonable price of under $60, a great value considering included accessories.
Here are the pictures.
Click to expand...
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Do they still make earphones?
What is their latest model??
Thanks for the review

bagajohny said:
Do they still make earphones?
What is their latest model??
Thanks for the review
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Click to collapse
Sorry, it was close to 4 years ago, I haven't been following budget iems as closely, and now mostly review flagship iems and daps (post mostly on my twister6.com blog or on head-fi). But the best place to keep up to date with the latest Chi-fi releases is on Penon audio, they always get the latest stuff.

Review of Meelec Sport-Fi X7 Bluetooth 4.0 w/aptX wireless headphones w/lots of pics!

This is a Review of Meelec Sport-Fi X7 Bluetooth 4.0 w/apt-X wireless headphones. http://www.meelec.com/Sport_Fi_X7_Wireless_Sports_In_Ear_Headphones_p/ep-x7-bk-mee.htm available on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MEElectronics-Bluetooth-Wireless-Headphones-Headset/dp/B00V3L7WME/
When it comes to running, biking, working out, and other physical activities – headphone cord is the last thing you want to get in your way, thus wireless headphones make a perfect sense during these activities. In particular, a style of wireless headphones with a pair of earbuds connected by a wire with in-line remote control has been very popular for active lifestyle. But regardless of sound quality or controls, one fundamental problem that every single headset in this category faces is lack of secure fitment to keep up with intense workout. Most of these headphones have a large cylindrical shape shell that sticks out of your ear and houses drivers and all the electronics, including micro-usb connector. As a result, you have to rely on either larger size eartips (for a tighter fitment) or attached wings/fins anchored around concha area of your ear.
To mitigate this problem, Meelec guys came up with a great solution of a modified bean shaped shell, a similar kind you’ll find in Westone and Shure IEMs, with a comfortable memory wire and all the necessary wireless guts to keep Sport-Fi X7 away from an umbilical cord attaching it to a sound source. As a result, they created probably one of the best secure fitment sports wireless headsets I’ve tested to date. Some might argue there are other wireless headsets with earhooks or neckbands, but they all pre-shaped to universal non-customizable fitment and neckbands bounce as you move around. Here is more about X7 and why I found it to be so good.
Arrived in a premium packaging, it has a very bold cover image with a clear statement of this headset being different from others, including “SPORTS” in red capital letters to get your attention. With plenty of functionality info on the back and a detailed spec on the side, you can also find addition description when you flip the magnetic cover open which also reveals the actual X7 under a clear display setting.
Unboxing.
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Out of the box when you remove the plastic form-fitted tray, you'll find X7 and a storage case with all the included accessories inside of the case, and also a detailed manual booklet. The accessories include a charging usb to micro-usb cable, just a generic type which is obviously compatible with any smartphone charger, and a set of S/M/L pairs of silicone tips. Meelec is actually well known for making their own custom eartips, and you can see these are custom tips with tapered down edge of the inner core. Since a nozzle of X7 shell is not a uniform barrel (it has a wider tip area), the eartips are designed for a better wrapping around that nozzle tip so it doesn’t slide out when you remove headphones from your ears. A little detail, but still important.
Also, I was glad that included zippered case was larger in comparison to a typical round storage case. When you are dealing with IEMs and a typical cord you wrap around 3 fingers for storage – you can live with a smaller case or even a pouch. Here, you are dealing with a memory wire that could take a little while to shape to your desired perfect fitment. Using smaller case will mean that you have to crumple up your work when stuffing it inside, just to start all over again when you take it out later. With a larger diameter round case, I was able to leave memory wire shape intact, just wrapping around flexible part of the cord. This was a big deal to me!
Accessories.
I already mentioned a little bit about the design and the shape of X7 earpieces. They have a modified bean shape of the traditional Westone/Shure design. As a result, nothing sticks out of your ear, and the cord comes out and wraps behind your ears. The shell itself is lightweight, plastic, and the whole headset with cables/remote weights only 13g. When you look closely, you can see an air vent pinhole at the base of the nozzle, an important feature for acoustics and perhaps to relief some air pressure in order to avoid driver flex. Often with other sealed headsets there is no vent for air to escape when you insert earpieces in your ear, and in past I found issues related to driver flex especially when I go through tip rolling to improve a seal. Also, each shell had a clear L/R marking.
Attached cable is rounded and has a durable rubber shielding. It’s not too thick or too thin, and just perfect to handle extreme weather elements. The joint between memory wire and the rest of the wire has a hard plastic shield piece and additional strain relief. There was also a strain relief on each side of the in-line remote. For a more convenient adjustment, Meelec also integrated a rubber cable cinch on the back with just enough friction to keep it from sliding and to make sure cable doesn’t dangle in the back of your neck. Everything about the build and the design of X7 screams heavy duty construction and durability, but it’s still lightweight and very flexible.
In-line remote is plastic and has 3 multi-function rubbery buttons with an easy to feel shape which helps since you have to access it blindly behind your neck. A shallow height of the buttons with a close placement next to each other has been a problem for me with many other similar style headsets I tested in the past – here Meelec got it down to perfection, at least for my personal taste. Buttons have multi-function assignment with the one in the middle used for Play/Pause/Call, and other two on the sides of it with +/- to change a volume with a single click and skip a track next/prev with a long press.
With other similar style headset, charging is implemented through micro-usb connector located inside of the shell housing, thus a need to make it longer and bulkier. Here, Meelec came up with something which I have not seen with any other headset – micro-usb charging connector located in the remote!!! With a small rubber flap cover, it seals the port tight to stay consistent with IPX4 sweat-resistant rating. And speaking of charging connector, in my opinion 4 hour battery life is one of the few negatives I found with X7. From my experience, 6 hour battery endurance is a perfect balance for 2+ workout sessions in case if you forget to charge it up, while with 4 hours you might end up short during your second workout. This is just my personal opinion.
Design.
When it comes to pair up, it was no different than any other wireless headsets I tested. You hold the middle button, which also has Power functionality, until you enter pair up mode, and select the headset from a list of bluetooth devices visible to your phone. After that, headset was paired up quickly every time I turn the X7 power on, and it got connected to a phone and media audio without a single hiccup. The operating distance in open space was close to 35ft, but it was a bit of a stretch with some occasional stuttering especially if I step in another room. Cutting distance short down to 20-25ft worked better for my use with Note 4.
Phone call quality was actually not bad at all, thanks to another Meelec “innovation” of placing the mic in the Right earpiece, closer to pick up your voice. Every other headset has it inside of in-line remote, relying on sensitivity of mic but forgetting that remote is going to be placed behind your neck. Here, it was a great idea to place it right inside of headset to bring it closer to your face.
When it comes to a sound, X7 has the usual Dr Jekyll / Mr Hyde syndrome depending on the size of eartips you are planning to use. With a set of large eartips, to ensure the best seal, I'm hearing a rather balanced sound with a noticeable amount of bass boost in sub-bass region to produce a strong low end impact which gets your blood pumping during a workout. But when going down in size to a set of smaller eartips to loosen up a seal, medium for me - sub-bass levels off significantly (as expected). Typically with this type of wireless headsets I need to use the largest eartip to make sure earpieces stay firmly in my ears, but with X7 thanks to their ergonomic design and memory wire - I didn’t have to worry about it anymore.
Regardless of this "bass boost" being either on or off depending on eartip selection, you still hear a clear and detailed organic mids with a nice body in lower mids and smooth details in upper mids, and also rewarded with a nice and clear treble without any sibilance or harshness. Even with larger eartips for a more bass impact, I felt the low end was well controlled without spilling into lower mids.
I was going back'n'forth between eartips while trying to decide which one I prefer more because with large eartips in some EDM tracks sub-bass was getting a bit overwhelming, while with medium eartips in some mellow tracks I was craving sub-bass boost to balance out a sound with more warmth and body. At the end I found a happy medium with a pair of my trusted large size JVC spiral dot tips that give me a perfect seal for a tight bass impact while their large bore opening provides a great balance with brighter upper mids and treble details.
Summary.
In conclusion, I definitely enjoyed using Sport-Fi X7 and found them to be at the top of the game for anybody who is looking for wireless headphones when doing some serious physical activities. This Meelec model introduced a number of innovations I haven't seen before with any similar type of wireless headphones like moving a charger to in-line remote and moving mic out to an earpiece, using a built in cable cinch, and the first one with an audiophile shaped shell design and excellent memory wire implementation. Even when it comes to a sound, after finding a perfect pair of eartips - I was very impressed with a balanced smooth clear sound of these wireless headphones, a sound that can go head-to-head against a number of wired headphones even in higher price category.

Good review as usually.
I've not waited for your review and I bought them a couple of weeks ago and received last week. I was thinking about Jabra rox, but choose this ones because they are a new model, lighter and maybe smaller.
I will try with medium eartips to test the sound, at the moment I'm not impressed, but I'm not a very big expert and I have only used wired in-earphones. .

rimsilva said:
Good review as usually.
I've not waited for your review and I bought them a couple of weeks ago and received last week. I was thinking about Jabra rox, but choose this ones because they are a new model, lighter and maybe smaller.
I will try with medium eartips to test the sound, at the moment I'm not impressed, but I'm not a very big expert and I have only used wired in-earphones. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not impressed with a sound or with a design/fitment? Sounds needs a little bit of burn in, give them 15-20 hours to settle in. They are obviously not bright/detailed audiophile quality headphones. These are typical sports headphones with an enhanced bass, but you can control amount of this bass by going to medium size tips. That's what I'm using right now. Spiral dot tips are great but they are very expensive and have to be ordered from japan.

vectron said:
You are not impressed with a sound or with a design/fitment? Sounds needs a little bit of burn in, give them 15-20 hours to settle in. They are obviously not bright/detailed audiophile quality headphones. These are typical sports headphones with an enhanced bass, but you can control amount of this bass by going to medium size tips. That's what I'm using right now. Spiral dot tips are great but they are very expensive and have to be ordered from japan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right!
It was both, sound and fit. I will try the medium size (that i tought that were big) a wait the burn in.
I don't regret the money paid and I need to get used to it, because wired is a diferent "championship"...

B&W P5 Wireless Bluetooth BT4.1 w/aptX on-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless headphones. http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Headphones/Headphones/Headphones/P5-Wireless.html , also available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bowers-Wilkins-Wireless-Headphone-Black/dp/B00Y0Q9LFU/
Today you can find a lot of headphones labeled as "premium", but not all of them could be considered as truly "luxurious". If you narrow it down to what one might consider as premium-luxurious, it still doesn’t guarantee a great sound. And if you prefer a wireless connection - you probably should brace yourself for more compromises and a very limited selection. Out of the blue (at least it caught me by surprise), B&W just released a new Bluetooth Wireless version of their latest P5 Series 2 model with a checkmark next to all of these requirements. Premium and luxurious is already synonymous with Bowers & Wilkins brand name. I reviewed a number of their headphones in the past, and was always impressed with a quality of leather material, sexy wavy curves of chrome frame attached to earcups, concealed cable attachment (clever, but a bit time consuming), and a sound quality which I found to mimic analog tuning of full size speakers. Their first entry into Bluetooth world with T7 speaker was quite impressive as well, thus Bluetooth wireless headphones made sense as the next logical step. Here is what I found after spending over a week testing B&W P5 Wireless (P5W).
Packaging a gear in a black sturdy box has been a common practice with a lot of companies who want to underline premium quality of what to expect inside. Often you are not going to see much on the cover of such "gift" box beside a company/product name, while in this case B&W put a bold picture of their P5W on both the front and the back sides. No marketing hype, no functionality description, no specification list - just an elegant image of their headphones with captivating curves that draw you right in. When you lift a cover, your unboxing experience is rewarded with a "jewelry" display presentation of P5W in its leather, metal, and chrome glory.
Unboxing.
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With headphones out of the way, I was looking at a set of familiar P5 accessories including a quilted soft case and two sets of cables, except this time it was an audio headphone cable and usb charging cable. Since smartphone controls are integrated as part of Bluetooth wireless functionality, you no longer need a cable with in-line remote/mic, thus only an audio cable was included (3.5mm side to your source and proprietary 2.5mm to a hidden jack inside of earcup). Typical of many other wireless headphones, P5W offers both wireless and wired connection if you run out of juice. Just keep in mind that you can get up to 17 hours of listening time from a single charge at moderate volume level.
The case is the same as the one included with P5 S2, except this one has a small inner pocket for cable storage. Personally, I’m still on a fence about it. Using it at home is convenient, though my wife keeps teasing me if she can borrow my “purse”. P5W has a nice fold flat design with earcups rotating 90 degrees, and a soft quilted case with a magnetic flip cover does a good job of cushioning and protecting it. But a soft case doesn’t offer the best protection when you are traveling and want to shelter your headphone investment. I just wish B&W would offer a hard shell storage case, even as an add-on accessory. If they can make their headphones look that good, I can only imagine what they can come up with for a case.
Accessories.
When it comes to a design, as I mentioned before, all B&W headphones stand out with a premium luxury details common across their different models, just scaled up or down depending on over-ear or on-ear design. You will find a genuine perforated leather material covering soft memory foam of earpads, as well as the back of earcups covered in leather around the sides with a black brushed aluminum plate in the middle with an etched “Bowers & Wilkins” name. Earcups are attached on one side to a solid curved chrome metal double wire that waves into the headband. Beside previously mentioned 90 deg rotation mechanism, earcups also have a degree of tilt to adjust to your ears/head shape. Earpads are attached magnetically to earcups, and I will cover more about it later when discussing cable attachment. But I do want to mention that after 20-30 minutes of continuous use, my ears did get warm - it wasn’t too uncomfortable, but still noticeable.
The headband is leather wrapped and has soft foam padding on the inner side. The whole construction felt very solid and lightweight with an evenly distributed 215 grams of weight. Also, headband height adjustment was buttery smooth while still requiring a little bit of force so it doesn't slide out loose. Similar to P5 Series 2, clamping force was a bit tight out of the box and required a short break in period. After a few days it felt more comfortable while still offering an acceptable sound isolation. Regarding sound isolation, you do have to be realistic this is on-ear design which can't be compared to over-ear, thus you should expect to hear outside noise but with a good attenuation while still being aware of surrounding. Also even at full height extension, I think P5W model is more appropriate for small and medium heads, while it could be a bit tight if you got a big one on your shoulders.
Design.
Unlike other headphones with a removable cable, P5W (exactly like P5 Series 2) has a proprietary cable with a standard 3.5mm on the side going to your audio source and 2.5mm angled connector hidden inside of the left earcup. It's really a clever design which makes a cable attachment to earcup look like it has a hardwired seamless connection. To get to the connector you need to remove magnetically attached left earpad to access internal 2.5mm plug. Right side earpad is magnetically attached as well for an easy replacement. I do want to comment about being careful if you have sharp nails so you don't damage the leather since these magnets are quite strong. The cable itself feels sturdy yet thin, has a round shape, and feels soft. Also, due to a connection with a removable cable inside of the earcup, I didn't sense any microphonics effect.
Without a doubt, that is one clever way to attach a cable, but it's not as efficient as just being able to plug in a cable directly, and fiddling with earpads is a bit time consuming.
Replacement pads and wired connection.
Before I proceed to sound quality analysis, let me talk about P5W Bluetooth wireless performance and the controls. I have reviewed a lot of wireless headphones in the past, everything from minimalistic controls or touch controls to controls with individual and exotic buttons. In my opinion P5W strikes a perfect balance between all of these with a multi-function spring-loaded power button that turns headphones on when you slide and hold it and goes into pair-up mode when you push it. And everything else is taken care of by 3 other conveniently located buttons. All these operation are accompanied by a pleasant chime tone, the same one used in T7 wireless speaker.
Pair up was easy and seamless, and headphones were connected to phone and media audio without any problem. All the controls were within easy reach on the back of the right earcup, using 3 buttons with volume up/down assigned to the upper and the lower one, and a raised button in the middle for Play/Pause/Call with a single click, Skip Next with a double click, Skip Back with a triple click, and long press to start Google NOW. The location of buttons on the back of earcup was very convenient and easy to ID by sliding a finger to find a button in the middle. The same right earcup has micro-usb charging port at the bottom next to power button, a bi-color led, and two mic pinhole vents contributing to an excellent voice pick up. Sound quality during calls was noted to be excellent.
With a support of the latest BT4.1, wireless performance was quite good covering a stutter free distance of 40 feet in open space. Also, during a testing with my Note 4 in a pocket and while covering earcups with my hands, the wireless connection was still solid. And of course, with a support of apt-X, AAC, and SBC audio codecs – I was able to confirm a really good audio performance as well. If you are using Android based devices, apt-X support is a must. Btw, one interesting thing that I did notice - as soon as you plug in the cable, wireless connection was automatically disabled.
Wireless operation.
When it comes to a sound quality, we are still dealing with a pair of 40mm drivers used in P5 Series 2 with a full dynamic range tuning. As a result, wired performance was very similar to P5 S2, but slightly different in comparison to Wireless which now depends on internal D/A audio decoding of digital stream and analog conversion to pump the drivers. As a matter of fact, I actually enjoyed wireless sound a little more than wired. Wired was close in comparison, but had just a little more depth in soundstage and a little more sub-bass. But retrieval of details wasn't exactly on the same level as wireless. Also due to lower sensitivity in wired mode, it needed a little volume boost. In comparison, Wireless sound was more balanced and with a better separation and layering effect.
In more details, I found Wireless audio performance to be nicely balanced with a full body sound and excellent extension at both ends of frequency spectrum. It had a nice soundstage with slightly above the average width and an average depth with a more intimate feeling. I found layering and separation of instruments and vocals to be just perfect.
Low end has a deep meaty sub-bass extension which adds a nice level of rumble without overpowering the bass, mid-bass punch is fast and well controlled without crossing
lower-mids threshold. The balance between sub-bass and mid-bass quantity was just perfect and also the reason why I preferred wireless sound over wired.
Lower-mids have a nice body without adding extra "weight" to the sound, and upper mids have a great level of smooth clarity with excellent retrieval of details. This is noticeable especially with vocals, male or female, that sound smooth and organic. Overall mids have a perfect balance of smooth and detailed sound.
Treble has a good extension, also with a clear, crisp, and smooth sound. No sibilance or ear fatigue during extended listening. I was actually very pleased with upper mids/treble performance which often gets neglected in wireless headphones.
And speaking of other wireless headphones, here is a comparison with some other on-ear and over-ear models (Meelec Touch, Meelec Matrix 2, Stance S1+, and Momentum 2 Wireless).
P5W vs Touch - Touch has less sub-bass and a touch more aggressive mid-bass, lower mids are a bit thinner and upper mids are a little brighter and a bit more forward, treble is a bit crispier. For 1/4 of the price Touch is a great value, though build/design is not as luxurious, and touch controls could be a bit confusing. Overall, P5W sounds smoother and more organic.
P5W vs M2W - M2W has a wider/deeper soundstage, a bit less sub-bass and a similar mid-bass, also similar lower mids, but upper mids are more recessed, darker, and a little less detailed, treble is also a bit darker and has less quantity in comparison. M2W full size over-ear is more comfortable and added sound isolation of ANC is a plus. P5W controls are straight forward and easier to reach, sound tuning is smoother and more detailed, and Bluetooth performance is more stable.
P5W vs Matrix 2 - M2 has less sub-bass and slower mid-bass, thinner lower-mids and less detailed upper mids (not the same level of clarity), similar treble. P5W controls are more minimalistic and straight forward, and it has a more luxurious build/design.
P5W vs S1+ - S1 has a lot less sub-bass and mid-bass is less aggressive, lower mids are a little thinner and upper mids are a little brighter and slightly more detailed, treble has a better extension and a little brighter and crispier. Soundstage in S1+ is a little wider. Also, S1+ controls are a little more confusing.
Conclusion.
B&W P5 Wireless came out of the blue and knocked one right out of the park! I would be very curious if they ever decide to convert P7 into wireless, or perhaps B&W thinks that wireless is more appropriate when traveling thus P5 footprint is compact enough. But either way, I found P5W to hit the right mark in design quality, selection of premium materials, ergonomics of controls, battery life, and audio performance. Even with a support of BT4.x and apt-X codec you can either get a muddy performance or a sterile clean lifeless sound. Here, B&W was able to tune their drivers on a level of quality wired performance with a nicely balanced sound signature. At the same time, fitment might not be for everyone, and even with my medium size head I had to adjust earcups a bit until I find a sweet spot. In general, on-ear fitment could be a hit or a miss, and as I mentioned before – don’t expect super isolation. But if you are looking for premium luxurious headphones and craving high quality wireless audio performance – P5 Wireless sounds as good as it looks!

Review of Superlux HD668B headphones - studio quality on a budget!

This is a review of Superlux HD668B studio semi-open headphones. Manufacturer website: Superlux. Seems that the best prices for these are on Mod Edit: Affiliate referral sales link removed. where you can find it on sale between $30-$35.
It has been awhile since I posted my audio reviews in android communities. But I finally have a new discovery to share with everybody. Even so I have been focusing lately on testing and reviewing flagship IEMs and CIEMs, majority of which cost north of $1k, in this write-up I’m going back to my roots and will talk about sone of the cheapest pairs of headphones I’ve tested to date. Keep in mind these are full size semi-open cans, not another budget pair of in-ears or earbuds where I have seen even lower prices ($5 Monk being the prime example). But still, at $35 or sometime even down to $30, I haven’t heard full size headphones that cheap with a sound that good! Don’t mistake this level of excitement for “OMG, this kills any $500-$1k pair of headphones”, let’s be realistic. But I have no problem saying these $30-$35 headphones have a build quality of other $60-$70 pairs and sound quality that can go head-to-head with a number of full size cans up to $200.
3+ years ago when I started writing my audio gear reviews, my focus was solely on budget earphones, trying to find the next Giant Killer. But you can’t judge something to be a “giant killer” without experience of testing more expensive mid-tier and flagship “giants”. Now, I made a full circle which gives me a more objective point of reference for comparison. I also made an interesting observation about this HD668B model while reading various impressions since its release in 2011. Many of the negative comments I read about it are no longer applicable to this 2016 version, which makes me wonder if Superlux already implemented some of the fixes and improvements based on the received feedback.
The ironic part of this write-up is that I wasn’t even planning to review these headphones and was asked to take a listen to them in addition to something else I requested to review from Gearbest. I probably would have dismissed them just on the basis of how much they cost, expecting the usual of “you get what you paid for”. But I was proven wrong, and now would like to share with you about my experience with Superlux HD668B after spending the last few weeks testing them.
Unboxing and accessories.
Unboxing experience of HD668B didn’t feel at all like I was dealing with a cheap pair of budget headphones. A sturdy cardboard box with a nice cover image, a very detailed spec and a description of the design, and a complete list of accessories with corresponding pictures – the packaging box exterior already carried a message of the product being too good to be true for $35 price tag. But as you know, the writing on the box could be just a part of the overhyped marketing, so without further hesitation I proceeded to lift the cover.
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I was greeted with a set of full size cans neatly packed inside of a cardboard insert and other accessories around it. With everything out, I was looking at a generous size soft nylon carrying pouch/bag, two extension cables, 6.3mm adapter, a peculiar cable clip, and a printed manual/guide. The nylon pouch felt neat and durable, branded with Superlux name. I consider adapter to be a filler, but it could come handy with full size headphones when used in a desktop setup. The clip made sense once I attached the cable to HD668B, realizing it does a great job securing the joint if you pull on the wires.
Regarding the cable, it was actually an extension cord. First of all, the whole idea of a removable cable in $35 pair of full size headphones is impressive. But it’s not a traditional cable with 3.5mm male plug on each side. To keep HD668B earcups slim, Superlux brought out the connector to the outside with a male 3.5mm plug and a very short extension cable. As a result, you attach the provided “extension” cable to this external connector. Included was 1m short cable, perfect for a portable use, and 3m long cable for other applications. You can also combine them together to form 4m extra long cable to give you more traveling room around the desk.
This "extension" cable idea was quite unique, though it would not be easy to find an extension cable with in-line remote if you need to. But you can also argue that majority of people would prefer not to carry a phone conversation with these on. With connector placed on outside, the earcup housing was definitely slimmer. Also, the attached earcup connector cable is very short with a heavy duty shielding and impressive strain relief. Not 100% sure if the cable clip was really necessary since the mating of the cable was already secure, but it never hurts to add another level of protection.
Design & build.
The first look at HD668B brought back the memory of my recent review of ATH-A2000Z with a similar wire-headband design and 3D-wings. Honestly, I was expecting a flimsy plastic construction, but surprisingly found it to be not bad at all. Starting with a headband, you have minimalistic design with a support of 2 steel spring-wires, assuming one carries a cable going to the connector on the left side. I have an average size head, and it was a bit tight at first but loosened up after a short time of being stretched over the soccer ball.
There is no height adjustment like in traditional full size headphones, and instead you have soft foam “wings” on a spring metal wire which self-adjusts as you put headphones on. This could be hit-or-miss with some people who have big head or curly hair (the last comment actually came from my wife). For me personally, it works quite well since I’m already accustomed to ATH-R70x and ATH-A2000Z, both of which have a similar “wings” headband support.
HD668B next to ATH-A2000Z
Though the headband spring-wire felt solid, these wings felt a bit flimsy in comparison, especially a thinner wire attachment - just have to be more careful when taking these headphones off you head. Closer to earcups, the headband wires are held together with a plastic joint piece on each side, kind of reminding me of “y-splitter”. These pieces look to be replaceable, if needed, and made of a solid plastic material. I found HD668B to be relatively comfortable to wear, and with evenly distributed 220g of weight it felt feather light.
Moving on to earcups, here Superlux took a page right out of AKG240. I have no doubt that Superlux engineers were inspired by AKG design, even bringing the connector to outside, though keeping a standard 3.5mm TRS plug for “extension” cable attachment. The back of earcups also has a similar to AKG circular vents, intended for a semi-open back performance. The inner middle part of earcups does pivots to adjust around your head, and it works quite well. The pleather earpads are easy to remove and to replace, especially if you want something softer. Since the earpads look universal and stretch over the top of earcups, I’m sure replacement alternatives won’t be hard to find.
The included original pleather pads are OK, but they do get a little hot after extended use. It definitely makes sense to experiment with different earpads to hear how they affect the sound. Just like eartips of in-ear monitors, you can fine tune the level of low end extension and impact as well as being able to control the top end. In addition, once you remove the earpads, you can also experiment with different dampening foam materials to figure out how it affects the sound. Here you will find plenty of room for modding experiments.
The fit.
Sound analysis.
Before jumping into sound analysis, I left HD668B on burn in for about 100hrs, making sure their dynamic drivers are properly conditioned. Honestly, I didn’t have too high expectations for these, still being a bit skeptical due to the low price. As a result, my surprise was more shocking when I discovered HD668B to be tuned with a tasteful V-shaped full body sound signature and warm detailed tonality.
In more details, I hear a deep low end impact, down to a textured sub-bass rumble and a tight mid-bass which has a bit of a hollow punch. The bass is rather well controlled, articulate, and there is no spillage into lower mids. The lower mids have a nice full body, but there is no muddiness or congestion, while upper mids are clear and detailed with an organic presentation of vocals - not too much upfront, just pushed a little back due to an elevated low end. Treble is surprisingly crisp and detailed, with a good extension, and some nice airiness which helps with layering and separation of instruments and vocals and contributes to higher resolution of the sound. If I have to nitpick, perhaps upper frequencies have a little shade of metallic sheen, but it wasn’t that bad especially when you pair up with different sources.
Soundstage has a good expansion in width, not super wide but definitely way above the average. The depth is not too far out, but you still feel like a few rows in front of the stage, giving a soundstage perception of spreading left/right around you without going too deep. Layering and separation was surprisingly good due to well controlled low end which keeps the sound clean from muddiness without spilling into mids and extra sparkle in treble which adds some air between the layers of the sound.
If you are looking for a good isolation, these are definitely not the best for listening on the bus or in the library, after all - this is a semi-open design. But it wasn’t leaking as bad when you step away 2-3ft. I’m sure some will find this semi-open design even beneficial since it could raise the surround awareness without losing too much of the sound details.
Sound comparison.
Considering 98dB sensitivity and 56 ohm impedance, I found HD668B to be a little less efficient in comparison to my other headphones, and as a result I had to push the volume a little higher. Also, it’s clear that more expensive headphones have an edge in build quality and material selection.
HD668B vs ATH-MSR7 - HD soundstage is wider, while MSR7 has more depth. HD has a deeper sub-bass and a little stronger mid-bass, while MSR7 has a more balanced low end. I also noticed that HD has a little faster attack of the mid-bass while MSR7 is a tad slower. Lower mids are similar, while MSR7 upper mids are more forward, balanced, and a little brighter in comparison to HD. I hear treble as being similarly crisp and well defined, though MSR7 has a little more airiness and a better extension. Overall, the biggest difference here is a more balanced signature of MSR7 versus lifted low end and slightly recessed mids of HD.
HD668B vs ATH-M50x - HD soundstage is wider, while M50x has more depth. HD has a deeper sub-bass while mid-bass is similar, perhaps with HD having a bit stronger impact. Mid-bass speed is also similar. Lower mids are very similar, while upper mids in M50x are more balanced and more forward in comparison. Also, M50x upper mids are a little smoother and a touch warmer. HD treble is crispier and has more airiness in comparison to a smoother M50x treble. While I enjoy M50x comfortable fit for extended listening on my laptop, here I actually preferred the sound of HD.
HD668B vs SoundMagic HP150 - HP150 soundstage comes closer to HD width, but not quite there, and HP150 has a little more depth. Also, HP150 sub-bass reaches deeper to the same level as HD, but a little shy of HD quantity, and mid-bass in HP150 is a bit lower in quantity as well. HP150 lower mids are leaner and upper mids are a little more upfront and brighter with an advantage of slightly improved retrieval of details. Treble is rather similar, being crisp, bright, snappy, and with enough extension and airiness to make the sound more resolving and layered. Actually, after closer listening I hear HP150 being a little brighter in upper mids/treble.
HD668B vs Oppo PM3 - HD has more width and both have a similar depth. HD has a deeper sub-bass extension and faster mid-bass punch with more impact. PM3 mids sound more congested in comparison to HD, though they are more forward in presentation. Actually HD upper mids are brighter and more detailed and the treble is crisper, better defined, and with more airiness. PM3 has a very smooth laid back sound while HD has a faster punchier brighter and more detailed sound.
Conclusion.
I’m starting to notice a pattern where many of my “giant killer” discoveries happen by accident, when I’m not even looking for another budget pair of headphones and instead just asked to try something new for fun. Did I get spoiled by flagships? It’s hard not to, and I’m being honest about it. But sometime it’s refreshing to take a step back and to listen to these amazing gems that cost so little. From $5 Monks to $10 KZs and now $35 HD668B – these are all amazing discoveries that show you how creative a manufacture can get by challenging themselves to squeeze every ounce of performance and sound tuning on such a small budget. HD668B is a real deal Giant Killer, and either if you are on a budget or just want to humor yourself with another budget discovery – I have no problem recommending these semi-open full size headphones because they don’t just look cool and ready for modding, but they also sound great!