Can’t wait for the new Chi-Fi IEMs that I ordered on Saturday. They should arrive any hour now. And I can begin my review. And… here they are!
These are striking IEMs in 2 tone electric blue and purple. The finish is glossy and smooth all round, and you can make out quite clearly the huge dynamic bass driver as well as the balanced armature slipped up the nozzle. Shape-wise they are delightfully curvaceous and fit my large ears well. I have medium small canals and couldn’t get a good seal yet comfy fit with the supplied tips. Luckily I have a pair of Spin Fits which make a significant difference to the sound.
With the wrong size tips, bass is sorely lacking and without the Spin Fits, midrange is a bit spare. The legend is that these earphones were snapped up like hotcakes when they first dropped. A balanced armature hybrid IEM for under $20. Must remember not to toss and drop BA equipped phones, big no- no.
The BA makes a big difference in treble. It deals well with Joan Baez’s piercing vocals. Fed with classical music, the often backgrounded double bass rolls along sharply and punches through the mix effortlessly. However I can’t shake the feeling that these phones are light weight and light sounding. Some may call them airy, others anaemic, but for the 63RM / $13 I spent, shipped, one can’t expect a thick medical grade acrylic capsule such as in the punchy and solid KZ DQ6.
If you’re on Vidos or Monks like I was, the ZST is a good upgrade. For 3x the price it’s still worth it. Pay 3x more again and it will get you the Shure se112 -a viable upgrade if you desire durability and a more solid / authoritative reproduction.
All in all, a fun earphone which goes on and off the ear with ease, making music clear and accessible. A must carry for train commutes and study at the park.
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