u/Andidalo

S24 Ultra, Muse Hifi M3 Ultra Tube DAC, Pula Arc.

Saves me risking my expensive IEMs on my commute to work- it's crowded on my train.

The M3 Ultra gives this budget set a shot in the arm, loving how they sound together.
I got both of these from Hifigo.com

I need tips on how to fix a DAC to the back of your phone without sticking velcro tape to it?

I haven't figured that out yet.

Do you enjoy neutral IEMs for reference? Do you use budget sets?

Pula Arc In Ear Monitor from Pula Audio available from Hifigo

A budget friendly IEM that will make an impression in your ear while punching above its weight at this price point. They don't look half bad either and fit very nicely in the ear.

Unboxing

The unboxing is a little underwhelming but I like the sparkly, black outer box and the style of the packaging. If I am honest, for $20 I am very happy. We have an outer sleeve, plastic protection layer and below that the IEMSs mounted in a card support frame and separate accessories box, all in black.

Accessories

In the internal box we have a cable and a bag of tips in 3 sizes. Neither of these items are high end but both are up to the task in-hand. The clear, 0.78mm 2 pin cable is budget and is thin enough to be comfortable and manageable, with some memory issues. There are no left/right marking on the cable at all, but there are on the IEMs themselves. There is no case included but that is fair enough on such an affordable set. There is a wide rim on the nozzles which makes it difficult to fit the tips on, but secures them firmly in place once on.

Fit

These fit in my ears without any issues and because they are a single driver set, they are not too large and I do not have any problems with them gradually slipping out of my ears, like I sometimes do with larger sets holding multiple drivers. They are pleasant and non irritating to wear. The tips are standard but come in three sizes and seal reasonably well, and they are comfortable enough for short term use.

Appearance

I really like the way these IEMs look - the silver faces with subtle patterning and font work well with the clear shell which reveals the driver and wiring within. I have spent several times the price of this set on IEMs which do not look (or fit) half as good. They are understated and simple, which works in their favour aesthetically.

Audio 

I have listened to many IEMs and I can honestly say that I have spent way more on sets that don't sound (and fit/look) as good as this. I have also spent more on sets that sound way better than this - but what is impressive is that they can do this for $20. The sound is not offensive at all - there is clarity and the marketing of these as a reference, neutral set makes sense. They are non-fatiguing and comfortable. They do scale quite well but I did notice some sibilance at higher volumes, I am prone to this though and it may be just because of seal issues. Swapping out the tips for some Softears UTs made a big difference. While they are overall a neutral set they lean towards warmth and I can hear a slight bass prevalence with a tiny hint of muddiness/boominess, but I will stress that the overall sound signature is clarity and separation of instruments, which are defined quite well. There is a little touch of boominess to them also, but this does not dominate the sound at all. The tuning does not provide the richness of more refined and expensive IEMs, but this is to be expected. $20!

 Electronic music comes across well with enough bass to lift you but not so much as to muddy the water. Rock music is delivered well with nothing offending my ear, male vocals are a little subdued but it is easy to enjoy rock with these IEMs. Classical music is OK - the set can handle dynamics and will deliver climaxes well enough, I find myself wanting more at the apex of what an orchestra can deliver though. That being said, I would not expect to be lifted out of my seat at this price and I am not disappointed.

Summary

I think the prevailing feeling I have with this set is that I would very happily part with $20 to buy these. They do not frustrate me, and they reinforce my opinion that even the cheapest IEMs expose the price of top end true wireless sets for what they really are - overpriced. The Arcs are far from unpleasant and non offensive. If you want an outstanding audio experience then you can spend more but this set competes with IEMs that are multiple times the price while being comfortable, looking great and offering clarity with a wee hint of bass peeking through. The mids come across well despite the slight bass boost and the treble is unremarkable but not unpleasant.

I am struggling to say much negative about the set as they are a bargain at $20, if you want luxury and high end performance then these are not for you, if you want value for money and a good enough user experience with enjoyable, non-fatiguing sound, these are worth every penny.

The Pular Arc are available from the 27^(th) July - thanks to Hifigo for sending me a set for review.

Have you tried the PULAR ARC? Let me know if you agree with me (or if you don't!) Do you think budget IEMs have a viable place in the hobby?

Let me know!

Here are links to purchase the Arc;

• Official Store: https://hifigo.com/products/pula-audio-arc 
• AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012652328787.html 
• AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012637621566.html 
• Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H7X6NSVW 
• Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0H7W5K9GH 
• Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0H7W5K9GH 
• Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H7W5K9GH 
• Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H7W5K9GH

And here is some information from the manufacturer;

✅ The Balanced Gatekeeper – Neutral and natural reference‑grade sound without exaggerating any frequency range

✅ Ergonomic Comfort – Biomimetic oval‑curved shell that fits the ear contour for long listening sessions

✅ Premium Build – CNC‑milled brushed faceplate + transparent dual‑chamber shell design

Quick Stats:

• Price: $20

• Driver Config: 10mm PET dynamic driver (6μm one‑piece diaphragm + N52 neodymium dual‑magnetic circuit)

• Plug Options: 3.5mm TRS single‑ended

I bought Kid A on Ebay this week. A comment on this sub led me to the hidden booklet. Thanks!