Sent to me by HiFiGo for review.

No expectations on what to write. They only asked me to include non-affiliated purchase links (which I can’t add here) and mention their upcoming sale starting 17 August. AI was used to format this review.

All thoughts are my own.

Score

Juzear Nimbus: 6.5 / 10

Good recommendation at around $50.

What’s Included With My Unit

• Juzear Nimbus IEMs
• 3.5mm / 4.4mm modular cable
• Stock eartips
• Carrying pouch
• 3 tuning nozzles
• No Type-C dongle in my version

TL;DR

Nimbus is a very capable budget set.

Best setup for me:

• White nozzle
• Stock tips
• Mid to low volume

Source used:

• K17 R2R
• BTR17

Why I like it:

• Balanced tuning
• Good air up top
• Clear enough vocals
• Good separation for the price
• Works well for gaming

Where it struggles:

• Higher volume
• Busy tracks
• Explosions and chaos in games
• Black nozzle around my 3 to 3.5K sensitivity

One-line take:

Very solid $50 IEM, best with the white nozzle, but not a giant killer.

Nozzles

White Nozzle

My favorite.

• Balanced with good bass and treble extension with air
• Best separation
• Best detail control
• Best for music
• Best for gaming

This is the nozzle I would recommend first.

Red Nozzle

More vocal and treble-focused.

• Less bass
• More upper energy
• More vocal presence
• More air

Good if you want vocals pushed forward.

Black Nozzle

More bass, but also more upper energy.

• Adds low-end weight
• Hits around my sensitive 3 to 3.5K area
• Some vocals suffer
• Separation takes a hit

Least preferred for me.

Music

Bass

Good for the price.

• Clean enough
• Decent punch
• Better balanced on white nozzle
• More quantity on black nozzle
• Not basshead level
• Not as textured as higher-tier sets

Vocals

Best on white or red nozzle.

• White sounds safer
• Red pushes vocals forward
• Black can make vocals suffer

Test tracks:

• 12 to 12 by sombr
• (Everything I Do) I Do It for You by Bryan Adams
• Please Forgive Me by Bryan Adams
• Runaways by The Midnight feat. Bonnie McKee
• Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter
• I Adore You by HUGEL, Topic & Arash feat. Daecolm
• Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish
• Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey
• Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
• Messy by ROSÉ
• Run by Snow Patrol

Vocals are clear enough, but not always the smoothest. Sometimes spicy and sibilant (especially with black nozzle).

Treble / Air

One of the better parts of Nimbus.

• Good air up top
• More treble extension than Juzear Defiant
• Red nozzle has the most treble
• White nozzle has the best balance

Treble is present, but manageable for me on the white nozzle.

Separation / Detail

Good for $55.

• Details stay intact better than expected
• White nozzle handles busy tracks best
• Still loses control when pushed too hard or at higher volume

Not amazing, but capable.

Soundstage

Decent.

• Some width
• Limited depth
• Limited height
• Still sounds like a budget IEM

It does not give me the “instruments floating around me” effect I get from better sets.

Gaming

Best nozzle:

• White

Strengths:

• Gunshots are easy to hear
• Footsteps are clear most of the time
• Imaging is pretty good
• Directional cues are easy enough to follow

Weaknesses:

• Explosions can cover footsteps
• Fire and chaos can clutter the mix
• Busy moments reduce separation

Overall, gaming is good for $55.

Not elite, but definitely usable.

Comparisons

Nimbus vs Top Pro

Not fair.

Top Pro is in another league.

• Smoother
• Better bass
• Better vocals
• Better separation
• Better detail
• Bigger stage
• Better width, depth, and height

Nimbus vs Arete 2

Arete 2 is still much better for gaming.

• Better imaging precision
• Better cue readability
• Better layering
• Cleaner chaos control
• More reliable footsteps

Nimbus vs Red Lion

Red Lion surprised me for immersive gaming.

• Better for COD BO7 MP
• Better distant footsteps
• Spot-on imaging
• More immersive presentation

I would still take Red Lion over Nimbus for gaming.

Nimbus vs Defiant Gamefidelity

Defiant also does well for gaming.

• Strong imaging
• Good detail
• Good overall performance
• Can get sharp at times

Nimbus is smoother with the white nozzle, but Defiant feels stronger for gaming.

Value

This is where Nimbus makes sense.

At around $50, you get:

• 3 tuning nozzles
• 3.5mm / 4.4mm modular cable
• Good stock tips
• Good music performance
• Good gaming performance
• Real tuning flexibility

It is not close to Top Pro or Arete 2, but it does enough right for the price.

Final Score

Juzear Nimbus: 6.5 / 10

Best nozzle: White
Best use: Good for medium volume music and gaming
Best trait: Balanced sound with good air
Biggest weakness: Can lose control with busy tracks

Very capable for $50 and easy to recommend as a budget pick.

Selling my like new Project Monolith. Only used it for testing maybe less than 10 hours. Will come with complete box and accessories - all tips are unused.

Asking for USD 435 including worldwide shipping and insurance. Will ship only to verified PayPal Address.

Post here before DM please.

Selling an 18K gold plated limited run IEM. Less than 10 hours of use.

Will come with complete box and accessories.

This is a limited run model and won’t be available again.

Please note dongle in last picture is not included.

Location Dubai. Buyer pick up.

Price on sale was 1509, with shipping and duties landed cost was 1675 almost.

My price AED 1500.

[WTS] CrinEar Reference IEM (in ear monitors)

Selling my like new Crin Ear Reference IEMs.

Metal shell and reference sound signature.

Will come with complete box and accessories that I have not used.

Price is AED 1000. Non negotiable.

Actual price on website is 1300+
Ali Express price during sales is 1175+
Duty is about 50-65 dirhams

My price is discounted for a virtually brand new item with less than 20 hours of use.

Please note orange tips are not included.

Location Dubai UAE. Buyer pickup.

Wanted to share my thoughts on the ASUS ROG Kithara after comparing it with a lot of headphones, headsets, and IEMs I have used.

My main use cases:

• Gaming
• Music
• Imaging
• Soundstage
• Separation
• Comfort
• Value

Kithara is not a typical gaming headset. It is an open-back planar magnetic headset made in partnership with HiFiMan, using 100mm planar magnetic drivers.

That makes it interesting because it sits somewhere between a gaming headset and an audiophile open-back headphone.

Kithara approximate price: MSRP $299. Typical discounted price $259-$289.

Summary

Kithara is one of the better value products I have tried for gaming because it combines:

• Open-back planar magnetic design
• Strong imaging and directional cues
• Good separation for the price
• Comfortable long-session use
• Detachable mic
• Useful cables and adapters
• Better value than building a separate headphone + mic setup

The trade-offs are clear:

• Wired only
• Open-back design is not suitable for noisy environments
• Not as refined as higher-end open planars
• Bass does not have the slam of Maxwell 2
• Less air above 10K compared to Arya Stealth or HE1000 Unveiled
• Clamp force feels higher than Arya Stealth
• Mic is serviceable

For me, that makes it an easy recommendation if your priority is wired desktop gaming with good sound and a complete package.

Score

For me:

• 8.5/10 for sound
• 9.0/10 for value

In my ranking list, it probably lands around the top 20 area, depending on how much value is weighted. You can see my ranking list in the link in my profile. I cover over 130 audio products I have either owned or tried with short impressions for each.

Gaming

Gaming is where Kithara makes the most sense.

It performs well with:

• Footsteps
• Reloads
• Shields
• Doors
• Distant gunfire
• Movement cues
• Directional awareness

The imaging is clear and easy to read. It does not have the same scale as Arya Stealth or HE1000 Unveiled, but it gives enough space and directionality to be useful in FPS games.

For gaming, Kithara gets fairly close to Arya Stealth in practical use. Arya Stealth is still better, but Kithara delivers a lot of that experience at a lower price and with a more complete gaming package.

Soundstage / Imaging / Separation

The open-back design gives Kithara a more natural presentation than most closed gaming headsets.

Imaging is its strongest point. It gives clear placement for sound cues and stays readable in busy scenes.

Separation is good for the price. It is not at higher-end open planar level, but it remains controlled in chaotic games.

Music

Music performance is good.

It has:

• Good clarity
• Good detail
• Controlled bass
• Controlled treble
• Decent vocals
• Natural open presentation

It is not better than higher-end HiFiMan models or my say the Top Pro, but it is good enough that I use it for music without feeling like I am making a major compromise. If I didn't have A/B tests with other products I think it stands very well on its own as a complete headphone.

Bass

Bass is controlled rather than heavy.

It does not have the slam or density of Maxwell 2. It focuses more on speed and control than impact.

For gaming, that works well. Explosions and gunfire have enough body without muddying the rest of the sound.

Treble

It has enough presence for clarity and gaming cues without becoming harsh. This is important for me because I am sensitive to sharper treble.

The main limitation is air and extension. Compared to Arya Stealth or HE1000 Unveiled, Kithara has less air above 10K. So it does not sound as spacious, sparkly, or refined up top.

That said, I would rather take slightly less air than grainy or sharp treble. For long sessions, the balance works well.

Vocals

Vocals are solid.

They are not standout, but they sound natural enough for gaming, Discord, YouTube, and casual music.

Comfort

Comfort is good overall, but not perfect.

The main thing I notice is clamp force. Kithara feels like it has more clamp than Arya Stealth, so Arya still feels more effortless on the head.

That said, Kithara is still practical for long gaming sessions. The pads are comfortable, the fit is stable, and I do not find it difficult to wear for desktop use.

Compared to Maxwell 2, I still prefer Kithara for long sessions because of the comfort and being open back.

Accessories / Package

This is a major strength.

You get a more complete setup than most headphones:

• Detachable mic
• Gaming cable
• Hi-fi cable
• 3.5mm option
• 4.4mm balanced option
• 6.3mm adapter
• USB-C adapter / DAC option

This reduces the need for extra purchases and makes it easier to recommend as a complete gaming setup.

Final Thoughts

The ASUS ROG Kithara works because it is built more like an open-back planar headphone with gaming features.

For me:

• 8.5/10 sound
• 9.0/10 value

Arya Stealth is still the better headphone.

HE1000 Unveiled is obviously in another tier.

Edition XV is still better if I want a warmer and smoother sound presentation for music but Kithara would excel in gaming and general daily use.

Kithara is such a complete package that unless I want wireless, ANC, simultaneous BT etc. I would be ok to buy it discounted and add to my collection (which is what I did thus far). Only thing that bothers me is maybe the logo on the cups but I don't think it is reasonable to pay additional 300$ to get Arya Stealth looks. :)

I would personally take this over many of the headphones I have tried all the way up to 500-600$.

Bought by me. Not sponsored, and nobody asked me to write this.

These are my impressions after trying different tips, cable, sources, and light EQ.

TLDR score:

Stock: 7 / 10
With EQ: 7.5 / 10

Setup

What helped:

• Swapped the stock cable because it pinched behind my ears (too thick)
• Changed stock tips to Penon Liqueur Orange
• Moved away from BTR17, which made the shout worse for me
• Used Fiio K13 R2R and Fiio Melody Snowsky
• Added small EQ cuts at 3200 Hz and 6600 Hz

Even after the cable swap, the shells still pinch behind my ears. The case is also pretty weak and has no proper space to store extra tips or a dongle DAC.

TL;DR

The Reference is not bad, but stock tuning was not my preference.

Best part:

• Bass
• Vocals when they work

Main issues:

• 3K shout
• Sibilance on some vocals
• Metallic / BA-ish timbre
• Weak instrument separation
• Limited sense of space
• Mediocre gaming
• Fit and case could be better

EQ helped a lot, but it did not fully change the character.

EQ

My EQ:

• 3200 Hz: -2 dB, Q 1.0
• 6600 Hz: -2 dB, Q 1.0

This controlled the 3K shout and reduced the metallic / BA-ish edge for me. Vocals are still forward, but less aggressive. Sibilance is also more manageable.

It is still intimate, vocal-forward, and not as spacious or dynamic as my other IEMs, but EQ takes it from hard to enjoy to usable.

Music

Bass

Score: 8 / 10

Bass was the surprise.

Good attack and decay. It hits cleanly, gets out of the way, and does not smear badly into the mids.

Not a basshead set, but bass was easily my favorite part.

Vocals

Stock: 7 / 10
With EQ: 7.5 / 10

Very vocal-forward.

Stock tuning sometimes became shouty, sibilant, or metallic on vocals, especially on:

• I’m Alive by Celine Dion
• Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
• It’s My Life by Bon Jovi
• Here I Am by Bryan Adams
• We Can’t Be Friends by Ariana Grande
• Be the One by Dua Lipa
• Messy by Rosé
• Style by Taylor Swift
• Run by Snow Patrol

Certain words had a spicy/crispy edge that pulled my attention.

After EQ, the sharp edge is reduced, but vocals are still the focus.

Timbre

Stock: 6 / 10
With EQ: 7 / 10

Stock, I heard a metallic / BA-ish timbre.

It showed up most clearly on vocal-heavy tracks and made some voices feel less natural. Also some instruments had a metallic sounding edge to them (a bit hard to describe). EQ helped more than expected, but I still would not call this the most natural set I own.

Layering / Separation

Score: 6 / 10

Not great for my taste.

On busy tracks, instruments feel too close together. The presentation is more inside my head than around me. Vocals overwhelm the mix.

I like space and instrument placement. Reference stays too intimate.

Treble / Fatigue

Stock: 6 / 10
With EQ: 7 / 10

Stock treble had bite and sibilance.

The EQ cuts made it much more manageable. I would not call it relaxed, but it no longer bothers me the same way.

Gaming

Score: 6 / 10

I tried it for gaming and did not enjoy it. Hence, the short review.

Main issues:

• Explosions and gunfire overwhelmed the mix
• Footsteps were harder to hear
• Directionality was decent
• Distance perception was limited and sometimes wrong
• Presentation felt too in-my-head

Normally I sit around 1.5 to 2 K/D in matches. With Reference, I was struggling to even hit 1 K/D.

Not scientific, but it matched what I was hearing.

Comparisons

Reference vs Top Pro

Top Pro is clearly better for me.

• Better layering
• Better separation
• Better space
• Better clarity
• Better timbre
• Better treble balance
• Better gaming
• No shout or sibilance for my ears

Reference has better bass than I expected and becomes more usable with EQ, but Top Pro sounds more complete.

Reference vs Arete 2

Arete 2 is much better for gaming.

• Easier cue readability
• No shout
• No fatigue
• More useful stage
• Better for footsteps
• Better value for my use case
• Bass boost button which I enjoy quite a lot

Reference vs Astral

Astral is more fun and energetic.

• More bass quantity and quality
• More sparkle
• More immediate wow factor
• More fatiguing in its own way
• Great for gaming as well

Final Score

CrinEar Reference stock: 7 / 10
CrinEar Reference with EQ: 7.5 / 10

Good bass and much better with EQ. Still too intimate, not spacious enough, and not as dynamic or layered as my other IEMs.

Value and conclusion

This is where the Reference falls apart for me.

At $349, the market is way too competitive. I can think of a lot of sets I would personally take over this depending on use case:

• Top Pro for basically everything, especially since mine was around $350
• Tea Pro for bass response
• Volume S for sparkle and air
• EP321 for treble and lean bass
• Arete 2 for gaming
• Astral for gaming/fun energy
• Performer 5+2 if I want to spend less
• Defiant if my budget is around $100

That is the problem. Even if I rate the sound around 7, the value is much lower for me.

Neither stock tip worked well for me, the case is not useful beyond being pocket-friendly, the cable is too thick, and the fit is not perfect. At this price, those things matter.

Bought by me. Not sponsored, and nobody asked me to write this.

These are my impressions after trying different tips, cable, sources, and light EQ.

TLDR score:

Stock: 7 / 10
With EQ: 7.5 / 10

Setup

What helped:

• Swapped the stock cable because it pinched behind my ears (too thick)
• Changed stock tips to Penon Liqueur Orange
• Moved away from BTR17, which made the shout worse for me
• Used Fiio K13 R2R and Fiio Melody Snowsky
• Added small EQ cuts at 3200 Hz and 6600 Hz

Even after the cable swap, the shells still pinch behind my ears. The case is also pretty weak and has no proper space to store extra tips or a dongle DAC.

TL;DR

The Reference is not bad, but stock tuning was not my preference.

Best part:

• Bass
• Vocals when they work

Main issues:

• 3K shout
• Sibilance on some vocals
• Metallic / BA-ish timbre
• Weak instrument separation
• Limited sense of space
• Mediocre gaming
• Fit and case could be better

EQ helped a lot, but it did not fully change the character.

EQ

My EQ:

• 3200 Hz: -2 dB, Q 1.0
• 6600 Hz: -2 dB, Q 1.0

This controlled the 3K shout and reduced the metallic / BA-ish edge for me. Vocals are still forward, but less aggressive. Sibilance is also more manageable.

It is still intimate, vocal-forward, and not as spacious or dynamic as my other IEMs, but EQ takes it from hard to enjoy to usable.

Music

Bass

Score: 8 / 10

Bass was the surprise.

Good attack and decay. It hits cleanly, gets out of the way, and does not smear badly into the mids.

Not a basshead set, but bass was easily my favorite part.

Vocals

Stock: 7 / 10
With EQ: 7.5 / 10

Very vocal-forward.

Stock tuning sometimes became shouty, sibilant, or metallic on vocals, especially on:

• I’m Alive by Celine Dion
• Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
• It’s My Life by Bon Jovi
• Here I Am by Bryan Adams
• We Can’t Be Friends by Ariana Grande
• Be the One by Dua Lipa
• Messy by Rosé
• Style by Taylor Swift
• Run by Snow Patrol

Certain words had a spicy/crispy edge that pulled my attention.

After EQ, the sharp edge is reduced, but vocals are still the focus.

Timbre

Stock: 6 / 10
With EQ: 7 / 10

Stock, I heard a metallic / BA-ish timbre.

It showed up most clearly on vocal-heavy tracks and made some voices feel less natural. Also some instruments had a metallic sounding edge to them (a bit hard to describe). EQ helped more than expected, but I still would not call this the most natural set I own.

Layering / Separation

Score: 6 / 10

Not great for my taste.

On busy tracks, instruments feel too close together. The presentation is more inside my head than around me. Vocals overwhelm the mix.

I like space and instrument placement. Reference stays too intimate.

Treble / Fatigue

Stock: 6 / 10
With EQ: 7 / 10

Stock treble had bite and sibilance.

The EQ cuts made it much more manageable. I would not call it relaxed, but it no longer bothers me the same way.

Gaming

Score: 6 / 10

I tried it for gaming and did not enjoy it. Hence, the short review.

Main issues:

• Explosions and gunfire overwhelmed the mix
• Footsteps were harder to hear
• Directionality was decent
• Distance perception was limited and sometimes wrong
• Presentation felt too in-my-head

Normally I sit around 1.5 to 2 K/D in matches. With Reference, I was struggling to even hit 1 K/D.

Not scientific, but it matched what I was hearing.

Comparisons

Reference vs Top Pro

Top Pro is clearly better for me.

• Better layering
• Better separation
• Better space
• Better clarity
• Better timbre
• Better treble balance
• Better gaming
• No shout or sibilance for my ears

Reference has better bass than I expected and becomes more usable with EQ, but Top Pro sounds more complete.

Reference vs Arete 2

Arete 2 is much better for gaming.

• Easier cue readability
• No shout
• No fatigue
• More useful stage
• Better for footsteps
• Better value for my use case
• Bass boost button which I enjoy quite a lot

Reference vs Astral

Astral is more fun and energetic.

• More bass quantity and quality
• More sparkle
• More immediate wow factor
• More fatiguing in its own way
• Great for gaming as well

Final Score

CrinEar Reference stock: 7 / 10
CrinEar Reference with EQ: 7.5 / 10

Good bass and much better with EQ. Still too intimate, not spacious enough, and not as dynamic or layered as my other IEMs.

Value and conclusion

This is where the Reference falls apart for me.

At $349, the market is way too competitive. I can think of a lot of sets I would personally take over this depending on use case:

• Top Pro for basically everything, especially since mine was around $350
• Tea Pro for bass response
• Volume S for sparkle and air
• EP321 for treble and lean bass
• Arete 2 for gaming
• Astral for gaming/fun energy
• Performer 5+2 if I want to spend less
• Defiant if my budget is around $100

That is the problem. Even if I rate the sound around 7, the value is much lower for me.

Neither stock tip worked well for me, the case is not useful beyond being pocket-friendly, the cable is too thick, and the fit is not perfect. At this price, those things matter.

Letshuoer S12 Ultra

Quick review of the Letshuoer S12 Ultra.

Purchased by me, not sponsored, and nobody asked me to write this.

I’ll keep this short because this one did not click for me.

As always, audio is subjective. These are my impressions based on my ears, preferences, setup, and music library.

Note on gaming

I did not test this for gaming.

The detail retrieval, layering, and separation were not strong enough for me in music, so I did not feel the need to spend gaming time with it. If an IEM does not keep music clean and separated in the way I like, I usually do not expect it to suddenly become great for gaming. Additionally, the treble was causing me real fatigue so gaming was out of the question.

So this is a music-only impression.

Accessories, comfort, and build

This is one area where the S12 Ultra does well.

The shell is light, small, and comfortable. Fit was easy for me, and I had no real complaints with pressure or seal. Comfort is probably one of the better parts of the set.

The accessory package is also strong. You get a good case, 6 pairs of tips, modular cable options, and an included Letshuoer USB-C DAC dongle meaning you can plug direct to phone also.

What I care about

For music, I care most about bass quality, bass decay, layering/separation, timbre, vocals, treble smoothness, air, and resolution.

I am treble-sensitive, especially around 2 to 4K and 8 to 10K, so harshness matters a lot to me. You can read my thoughts on other gear I own in my posts history. I own Arete 2, Astral and Top Pro as my daily IEMs. S12 Ultra was used with BTR17 connected to my phone using default tips that are installed from factory when you remove IEM from the box.

TL;DR

The S12 Ultra did not work for me.

It has planar speed and can sound decent on the right tracks, but the overall presentation felt too sharp, thin, and inconsistent.

The weirdest part was the bass. On some tracks it hit pretty well. On others, it felt muted and lacked body. My best guess is that it depends heavily on how the track is mixed. When the song already brings low-end energy, the S12 Ultra can work. When the song needs the IEM to add warmth or weight, it falls short. I really don't know how else to explain this better.

Tracks that worked

These sounded decent to good:

• Raindance
• Fields of Gold
• Eye of the Tiger
• I Adore You
• Shake It to the Max
• Birds of a Feather

On these tracks, the speed, energy, and bass impact made more sense. Treble was also non fatiguing for my tastes.

Tracks that did not work

These were where it lost me as I genuinely had fatigue whilst listening to these songs:

• Summertime Sadness
• Taste
• What I Want
• Lose My Mind
• Survive
• Run
• Chasing Cars
• Set Fire to the Rain
• 12 to 12

It became too sharp, thin, or fatiguing. Vocals could get spicy, and the upper energy pulled too much attention plus it was grainy which I absolutely cannot stand.

Music

Bass / Sub-Bass

Score: 7 / 10

Not bad, just inconsistent.

It has planar speed and decent punch on the right tracks, but it does not always give me the body or texture I want. Sometimes it hits. Sometimes it feels oddly light.

Bass Decay

Score: 7 / 10

Quick and clean, as expected from a planar.

But sometimes it feels too quick, like the note hits and disappears before giving enough weight. That helps cleanliness, but hurts body.

Layering / Separation

Score: 4.5 / 10

Disappointing for me.

I expected better separation, but busy tracks did not feel cleanly layered. It was not total mush, but it was not organized or spacious enough to keep me engaged. Everything felt presented in the center and more in my head.

Timbre / Naturalness

Score: 4 / 10

This was one of my biggest issues.

It sounds planar in the bad way to me: fast, thin, slightly metallic, and not very natural. Instruments and vocals do not sound believable enough.

Vocals

Score: 4 / 10

Clear, but not enjoyable enough.

Vocals can sound thin, forward, and occasionally sharp. Female vocals especially became fatiguing on some tracks. Sometimes vocals also felt recessed when bass was forward.

Treble

Score: 3.5 / 10

Too spicy for me.

There is detail and air, but it crosses into sharpness too often. This was the main dealbreaker. Also did I say grainy! Insta-NO from me.

Air / Extension

Score: 5 / 10

Air is present, but not refined.

It sounds more like brightness than smooth extension. I hear upper energy, but not the kind of air that makes a set feel spacious or expensive. Coming back to Top Pro after S12 Ultra felt like a relief and that set is known for its upper treble energy.

Resolution

Score: 4.5 / 10

Underwhelming for what I expected.

It has speed and surface detail, but the detail does not feel cleanly layered or naturally presented. It sounds fast, but not resolving in the way I care about.

Final Verdict

The Letshuoer S12 Ultra is not for me.

I like the comfort, build, accessories, and included USB-C dongle. As a package, it is actually pretty nice.

Sound-wise, though, it has too many issues for my taste. It has some good moments, especially when the track already has strong low-end energy and the brightness does not take over. But overall, it is too sharp, too thin, and too uneven for me.

If you like brighter planar IEMs and mainly want speed, you may enjoy it. But if you are treble-sensitive, want natural timbre, or care about clean separation in busy tracks, I would be careful.

My personal score:

Letshuoer S12 Ultra: 4.5 / 10

Letshuoer S12 Ultra

Quick review of the Letshuoer S12 Ultra.

Purchased by me, not sponsored, and nobody asked me to write this.

I’ll keep this short because this one did not click for me.

As always, audio is subjective. These are my impressions based on my ears, preferences, setup, and music library.

Note on gaming

I did not test this for gaming.

The detail retrieval, layering, and separation were not strong enough for me in music, so I did not feel the need to spend gaming time with it. If an IEM does not keep music clean and separated in the way I like, I usually do not expect it to suddenly become great for gaming. Additionally, the treble was causing me real fatigue so gaming was out of the question.

So this is a music-only impression.

Accessories, comfort, and build

This is one area where the S12 Ultra does well.

The shell is light, small, and comfortable. Fit was easy for me, and I had no real complaints with pressure or seal. Comfort is probably one of the better parts of the set.

The accessory package is also strong. You get a good case, 6 pairs of tips, modular cable options, and an included Letshuoer USB-C DAC dongle meaning you can plug direct to phone also.

What I care about

For music, I care most about bass quality, bass decay, layering/separation, timbre, vocals, treble smoothness, air, and resolution.

I am treble-sensitive, especially around 2 to 4K and 8 to 10K, so harshness matters a lot to me. You can read my thoughts on other gear I own in my posts history. I own Arete 2, Astral and Top Pro as my daily IEMs. S12 Ultra was used with BTR17 connected to my phone using default tips that are installed from factory when you remove IEM from the box.

TL;DR

The S12 Ultra did not work for me.

It has planar speed and can sound decent on the right tracks, but the overall presentation felt too sharp, thin, and inconsistent.

The weirdest part was the bass. On some tracks it hit pretty well. On others, it felt muted and lacked body. My best guess is that it depends heavily on how the track is mixed. When the song already brings low-end energy, the S12 Ultra can work. When the song needs the IEM to add warmth or weight, it falls short. I really don't know how else to explain this better.

Tracks that worked

These sounded decent to good:

• Raindance
• Fields of Gold
• Eye of the Tiger
• I Adore You
• Shake It to the Max
• Birds of a Feather

On these tracks, the speed, energy, and bass impact made more sense. Treble was also non fatiguing for my tastes.

Tracks that did not work

These were where it lost me as I genuinely had fatigue whilst listening to these songs:

• Summertime Sadness
• Taste
• What I Want
• Lose My Mind
• Survive
• Run
• Chasing Cars
• Set Fire to the Rain
• 12 to 12

It became too sharp, thin, or fatiguing. Vocals could get spicy, and the upper energy pulled too much attention plus it was grainy which I absolutely cannot stand.

Music

Bass / Sub-Bass

Score: 7 / 10

Not bad, just inconsistent.

It has planar speed and decent punch on the right tracks, but it does not always give me the body or texture I want. Sometimes it hits. Sometimes it feels oddly light.

Bass Decay

Score: 7 / 10

Quick and clean, as expected from a planar.

But sometimes it feels too quick, like the note hits and disappears before giving enough weight. That helps cleanliness, but hurts body.

Layering / Separation

Score: 4.5 / 10

Disappointing for me.

I expected better separation, but busy tracks did not feel cleanly layered. It was not total mush, but it was not organized or spacious enough to keep me engaged. Everything felt presented in the center and more in my head.

Timbre / Naturalness

Score: 4 / 10

This was one of my biggest issues.

It sounds planar in the bad way to me: fast, thin, slightly metallic, and not very natural. Instruments and vocals do not sound believable enough.

Vocals

Score: 4 / 10

Clear, but not enjoyable enough.

Vocals can sound thin, forward, and occasionally sharp. Female vocals especially became fatiguing on some tracks. Sometimes vocals also felt recessed when bass was forward.

Treble

Score: 3.5 / 10

Too spicy for me.

There is detail and air, but it crosses into sharpness too often. This was the main dealbreaker. Also did I say grainy! Insta-NO from me.

Air / Extension

Score: 5 / 10

Air is present, but not refined.

It sounds more like brightness than smooth extension. I hear upper energy, but not the kind of air that makes a set feel spacious or expensive. Coming back to Top Pro after S12 Ultra felt like a relief and that set is known for its upper treble energy.

Resolution

Score: 4.5 / 10

Underwhelming for what I expected.

It has speed and surface detail, but the detail does not feel cleanly layered or naturally presented. It sounds fast, but not resolving in the way I care about.

Final Verdict

The Letshuoer S12 Ultra is not for me.

I like the comfort, build, accessories, and included USB-C dongle. As a package, it is actually pretty nice.

Sound-wise, though, it has too many issues for my taste. It has some good moments, especially when the track already has strong low-end energy and the brightness does not take over. But overall, it is too sharp, too thin, and too uneven for me.

If you like brighter planar IEMs and mainly want speed, you may enjoy it. But if you are treble-sensitive, want natural timbre, or care about clean separation in busy tracks, I would be careful.

My personal score:

Letshuoer S12 Ultra: 4.5 / 10

Selling my beloved FT1 headphones. One of the best closed backs money can buy.

Price on Amazon right now 646
Price on Sharaf DG 699 (but OOS)
Price on Ali Express 575

My price AED 500. Will include free Velour pads for added comfort and better bass definition.

Will come with full box and all accessories. Can register with Fiio for full warranty.

Selling like new headphones.

Price at Sharaf DG 799.
Price on Amazon 725 - 848
Price on Ali Express with discounts 675+tax and shipping

My price AED 500.

Still has warranty direct from Fiio. Can register for full warranty. Full box and all accessories.

Xenns Mangird Top Pro Review

Quick review of the Xenns Mangird Top Pro.

I previously wrote a Fresh Reviews Arete 2 vs Kiwi Ears Astral review, so I’ll link that separately for context. This post is focused on the Top Pro itself, with light references to those sets where useful.

Fresh Reviews Arete 2 vs. Kiwi Ears Astral Review.

The Top Pro was purchased by me. This is not sponsored and nobody asked me to write this.

The basics: Top Pro is a 10-driver hybrid IEM, listed as 2 dynamic drivers + 8 balanced armatures. MSRP is around $499, and I bought mine for around $350 on AliExpress sale.

After listening, gaming, and A/B testing for over a day I am writing this review. As always, audio is subjective. Your preferences might be different than mine. AI was used to clean up the write up but all thoughts are my own.

Gear, tips, and usage

Source used:

• Fiio K13 R2R
• Fiio BTR17 from my phone

Tips used:

• Stock balanced tips included in the box

Games tested:

• Call of Duty Black Ops 7
• Battlefield 6

Music used:

• Mixed library across pop, rock, electronic, vocals, and busier tracks with heavier layering

I have not rolled aftermarket tips yet. Since tips can change bass, treble, seal, and fatigue a lot, treat this as impressions from my setup, stock tips, and my ears.

How I am scoring

Everything here lands high because I am comparing Top Pro against IEMs I already like.

For me:

• 7 / 10 means good enough to recommend
• 8 / 10 means very good, with a real limitation I notice
• 9 / 10 means excellent and something I keep reaching for
• Anything below 7 is probably not staying in my collection

For gaming, I care most about imaging, usable stage, layering, separation, fatigue, comfort, and resolution. I am still developing how I want to score things so methodology is not consistent across reviews yet.

For music, I care most about separation in busy tracks, bass quality, bass decay, timbre, vocals without shout, treble smoothness, air, and resolution. I am treble-sensitive, especially around 2 to 4K and 8 to 10K.

You can find my full audio rankings list across headphones/IEMs in the link in my profile.

TL;DR

The Top Pro impressed me immediately.

Not because it is the loudest, bassiest, or sparkliest IEM I have heard. It impressed me because everything sounded more natural to me.

It is clean, smooth, coherent, and easy to follow, with excellent layering/separation, a lot of detail, and surprisingly good bass for a set this resolving. It reminded me of ThieAudio Valhalla, a much more expensive flagship-tier IEM and my reference for open, airy, high-resolution sound. Top Pro has a bit less air up top to my ears, but the clarity and resolution at this price are seriously impressive.

The caveat: it is not a basshead set, and the treble has real energy. If you want warmth and slam, or if you are extremely treble-sensitive, this may not be your pick. For me, it lands right.

Gaming

Imaging / Directionality

Score: 9 / 10

Imaging is spot on. Positional cues land accurately, stay stable, and sit where they should.

Small cues are easy to locate without the sound becoming sharp or forced. Arete 2 is still excellent and easy for gaming. Astral images well too, but its extra energy can make cues harder to isolate when fights get busy.

Soundstage

Score: 8.5 / 10

Strong stage for an IEM, but I am keeping this at 8.5 because it is still IEM stage.

Top Pro gives a good mix of width, depth, and placement. Sounds sit inside a believable space instead of feeling randomly stretched out. It is very good for the form factor, but not open-back headphone wide.

Layering / Separation

Score: 9.5 / 10

One of its biggest strengths.

When a lot is happening, footsteps, gunfire, reloads, shields, and environmental cues do not collapse into one blob. In Battlefield, I could still pick out nearby footsteps while vehicles and explosions were going off, which is where weaker sets usually smear everything together.

The sound stays organized, and that was a big reason I clicked with it immediately.

Fatigue

Score: 8.5 / 10

Detailed and airy without crossing into painful for me, but this is one area where it loses points.

The treble skirts my fatigue line. It mostly stays on the right side of it, but on longer sessions with brighter mixes, I do notice it. It is not as brain-off safe as Arete 2, though it gives a clear technical step up.

Comfort

Score: 9 / 10

Top notch for my ears.

It fits much better than Astral and similar to Arete 2, but lighter. Once seated, it basically vanishes. The cable is light and compliant, the accessory set is excellent, and the case is great.

This matters because if I am always aware of the shell, pressure, cable, or seal, I will not reach for it.

Gaming Resolution

Score: 9 / 10

Very resolving, and the detail feels real rather than manufactured by treble spice.

I hear small information clearly without the presentation getting harsh. For me, that is the line between “sounds detailed” and “is actually useful in a match.”

Music

Bass / Sub-Bass

Score: 8 / 10 quantity, 9 / 10 quality

Not a basshead set, and the quantity score reflects that.

The quality is excellent: clean, controlled, textured, and enjoyable, with enough weight for me without dominating. If you come from a bassier set, the midbass may feel lighter. If you want sheer slam, Astral has more. Top Pro wins on texture, control, and integration.

Bass Decay

Score: 9 / 10

Bass hits cleanly and gets out of the way.

It does not linger or smear into the mids, which helps busy tracks stay clean. This is one area where it sounds clearly more refined to me.

Layering / Separation in Busy Tracks

Score: 9.5 / 10

Top Pro handles dense music extremely well.

Instruments and vocals have room to breathe, and I can follow individual layers instead of everything fighting for space. This is probably the clearest upgrade over my other IEMs.

Timbre / Naturalness

Score: 9 / 10

The most natural timbre of my current IEMs.

Instruments sound believable, vocals sit right, and nothing reads as thick, hollow, or plasticky. This was one of the first things that clicked.

Vocals

Score: 9 / 10

Airy, clear, and well placed.

Vocals are present without going shouty. Female vocals in particular do not trigger the fatigue I get from some sets. Good clarity, good smoothness, and good placement for my ears.

Treble

Score: 8.5 / 10

The best treble balance of the IEMs I own, but still my other point deduction.

It has detail and air, and it is smoother than Astral while being more resolving than Arete 2. I am sensitive around 2 to 4K and 8 to 10K, and on most tracks this stays clean. On brighter or poorly mastered tracks, the upper end can still push harder than I want.

Worth noting again: I am on stock tips, so this could shift with tip rolling.

Air / Extension

Score: 9 / 10

Open and airy without sounding forced.

The top end gives space and clarity rather than fake sparkle pasted on. Slightly less air than Valhalla to my ears, but the clarity and resolution are outstanding for the money.

Music Resolution

Score: 9.5 / 10

The most resolving IEM I own.

More importantly, it keeps that detail readable instead of just throwing everything at you. It sounds layered, coherent, and controlled. That is what makes it feel like a real step up rather than just a different tuning.

Is the upgrade worth it?

For me, yes.

It is worth it if you are coming from something like Arete 2 or Astral and you are chasing:

• Higher resolution
• Better detail retrieval
• Cleaner layering and separation
• More natural timbre
• Better clarity
• Better bass control
• Smoother treble than Astral
• A more complete all-rounder for gaming and music

It may not be worth it if you mainly want more bass quantity, a warmer relaxed listen, or the best value-per-dollar gaming IEM. Arete 2 is still excellent for pure gaming value, and Astral still gives more bass and instant energy.

Top Pro is the upgrade if you want the sound to feel cleaner, more technical, more coherent, and more refined.

Final Verdict

Top Pro is the best overall IEM I currently own.

It is not flawless. The midbass is on the lighter side, the stage is good-for-an-IEM rather than headphone-wide, and the treble has enough energy that very treble-sensitive listeners should probably audition first.

But for my use case, it gives me the strongest mix of imaging, separation, resolution, bass control, comfort, and natural timbre.

Xenns Mangird Top Pro: 9 / 10

Xenns Mangird Top Pro Review

Quick review of the Xenns Mangird Top Pro.

I previously wrote a Fresh Reviews Arete 2 vs Kiwi Ears Astral review, so I’ll link that separately for context. This post is focused on the Top Pro itself, with light references to those sets where useful.

Fresh Reviews Arete 2 vs. Kiwi Ears Astral Review.

The Top Pro was purchased by me. This is not sponsored and nobody asked me to write this.

The basics: Top Pro is a 10-driver hybrid IEM, listed as 2 dynamic drivers + 8 balanced armatures. MSRP is around $499, and I bought mine for around $350 on AliExpress sale.

After listening, gaming, and A/B testing for over a day I am writing this review. As always, audio is subjective. Your preferences might be different than mine. AI was used to clean up the write up but all thoughts are my own.

Gear, tips, and usage

Source used:

• Fiio K13 R2R
• Fiio BTR17 from my phone

Tips used:

• Stock balanced tips included in the box

Games tested:

• Call of Duty Black Ops 7
• Battlefield 6

Music used:

• Mixed library across pop, rock, electronic, vocals, and busier tracks with heavier layering

I have not rolled aftermarket tips yet. Since tips can change bass, treble, seal, and fatigue a lot, treat this as impressions from my setup, stock tips, and my ears.

How I am scoring

Everything here lands high because I am comparing Top Pro against IEMs I already like.

For me:

• 7 / 10 means good enough to recommend
• 8 / 10 means very good, with a real limitation I notice
• 9 / 10 means excellent and something I keep reaching for
• Anything below 7 is probably not staying in my collection

For gaming, I care most about imaging, usable stage, layering, separation, fatigue, comfort, and resolution. I am still developing how I want to score things so methodology is not consistent across reviews yet.

For music, I care most about separation in busy tracks, bass quality, bass decay, timbre, vocals without shout, treble smoothness, air, and resolution. I am treble-sensitive, especially around 2 to 4K and 8 to 10K.

You can find my full audio rankings list across headphones/IEMs here: KAC's Audio Rankings.

TL;DR

The Top Pro impressed me immediately.

Not because it is the loudest, bassiest, or sparkliest IEM I have heard. It impressed me because everything sounded more natural to me.

It is clean, smooth, coherent, and easy to follow, with excellent layering/separation, a lot of detail, and surprisingly good bass for a set this resolving. It reminded me of ThieAudio Valhalla, a much more expensive flagship-tier IEM and my reference for open, airy, high-resolution sound. Top Pro has a bit less air up top to my ears, but the clarity and resolution at this price are seriously impressive.

The caveat: it is not a basshead set, and the treble has real energy. If you want warmth and slam, or if you are extremely treble-sensitive, this may not be your pick. For me, it lands right.

Gaming

Imaging / Directionality

Score: 9 / 10

Imaging is spot on. Positional cues land accurately, stay stable, and sit where they should.

Small cues are easy to locate without the sound becoming sharp or forced. Arete 2 is still excellent and easy for gaming. Astral images well too, but its extra energy can make cues harder to isolate when fights get busy.

Soundstage

Score: 8.5 / 10

Strong stage for an IEM, but I am keeping this at 8.5 because it is still IEM stage.

Top Pro gives a good mix of width, depth, and placement. Sounds sit inside a believable space instead of feeling randomly stretched out. It is very good for the form factor, but not open-back headphone wide.

Layering / Separation

Score: 9.5 / 10

One of its biggest strengths.

When a lot is happening, footsteps, gunfire, reloads, shields, and environmental cues do not collapse into one blob. In Battlefield, I could still pick out nearby footsteps while vehicles and explosions were going off, which is where weaker sets usually smear everything together.

The sound stays organized, and that was a big reason I clicked with it immediately.

Fatigue

Score: 8.5 / 10

Detailed and airy without crossing into painful for me, but this is one area where it loses points.

The treble skirts my fatigue line. It mostly stays on the right side of it, but on longer sessions with brighter mixes, I do notice it. It is not as brain-off safe as Arete 2, though it gives a clear technical step up.

Comfort

Score: 9 / 10

Top notch for my ears.

It fits much better than Astral and similar to Arete 2, but lighter. Once seated, it basically vanishes. The cable is light and compliant, the accessory set is excellent, and the case is great.

This matters because if I am always aware of the shell, pressure, cable, or seal, I will not reach for it.

Gaming Resolution

Score: 9 / 10

Very resolving, and the detail feels real rather than manufactured by treble spice.

I hear small information clearly without the presentation getting harsh. For me, that is the line between “sounds detailed” and “is actually useful in a match.”

Music

Bass / Sub-Bass

Score: 8 / 10 quantity, 9 / 10 quality

Not a basshead set, and the quantity score reflects that.

The quality is excellent: clean, controlled, textured, and enjoyable, with enough weight for me without dominating. If you come from a bassier set, the midbass may feel lighter. If you want sheer slam, Astral has more. Top Pro wins on texture, control, and integration.

Bass Decay

Score: 9 / 10

Bass hits cleanly and gets out of the way.

It does not linger or smear into the mids, which helps busy tracks stay clean. This is one area where it sounds clearly more refined to me.

Layering / Separation in Busy Tracks

Score: 9.5 / 10

Top Pro handles dense music extremely well.

Instruments and vocals have room to breathe, and I can follow individual layers instead of everything fighting for space. This is probably the clearest upgrade over my other IEMs.

Timbre / Naturalness

Score: 9 / 10

The most natural timbre of my current IEMs.

Instruments sound believable, vocals sit right, and nothing reads as thick, hollow, or plasticky. This was one of the first things that clicked.

Vocals

Score: 9 / 10

Airy, clear, and well placed.

Vocals are present without going shouty. Female vocals in particular do not trigger the fatigue I get from some sets. Good clarity, good smoothness, and good placement for my ears.

Treble

Score: 8.5 / 10

The best treble balance of the IEMs I own, but still my other point deduction.

It has detail and air, and it is smoother than Astral while being more resolving than Arete 2. I am sensitive around 2 to 4K and 8 to 10K, and on most tracks this stays clean. On brighter or poorly mastered tracks, the upper end can still push harder than I want.

Worth noting again: I am on stock tips, so this could shift with tip rolling.

Air / Extension

Score: 9 / 10

Open and airy without sounding forced.

The top end gives space and clarity rather than fake sparkle pasted on. Slightly less air than Valhalla to my ears, but the clarity and resolution are outstanding for the money.

Music Resolution

Score: 9.5 / 10

The most resolving IEM I own.

More importantly, it keeps that detail readable instead of just throwing everything at you. It sounds layered, coherent, and controlled. That is what makes it feel like a real step up rather than just a different tuning.

Is the upgrade worth it?

For me, yes.

It is worth it if you are coming from something like Arete 2 or Astral and you are chasing:

• Higher resolution
• Better detail retrieval
• Cleaner layering and separation
• More natural timbre
• Better clarity
• Better bass control
• Smoother treble than Astral
• A more complete all-rounder for gaming and music

It may not be worth it if you mainly want more bass quantity, a warmer relaxed listen, or the best value-per-dollar gaming IEM. Arete 2 is still excellent for pure gaming value, and Astral still gives more bass and instant energy.

Top Pro is the upgrade if you want the sound to feel cleaner, more technical, more coherent, and more refined.

Final Verdict

Top Pro is the best overall IEM I currently own.

It is not flawless. The midbass is on the lighter side, the stage is good-for-an-IEM rather than headphone-wide, and the treble has enough energy that very treble-sensitive listeners should probably audition first.

But for my use case, it gives me the strongest mix of imaging, separation, resolution, bass control, comfort, and natural timbre.

Xenns Mangird Top Pro: 9 / 10

Around September 2025 out of sheer boredom I wanted to try to improve the sound quality of games I play on my PC. What started out as a 200$ purchase became an obsession. At that time I had a 50$ Corsair HS 50 Pro that I had been using for past 3 years. The pleather pads had worn out but Corsair was kind enough to ship me a brand new set. I liked it so much I even bought a spare. It did imaging well and was amazing for fps games. I was never a music buff and usually listen to most of the stuff that is on radio.

Since then, I ordered a lot of headphones and with each purchase I realized that something doesn't sound right. Then I started buying small DACs to improve the sound quality compared to onboard audio. I have been experimenting with audio and trying different products as much as I can. I never intended to write about it or create a list but I figured sure why not? Which brings me here. I have been extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to try a lot of products out right now. I don't intend to maintain or update this list often as I feel I am at part of the journey where I have listened to most things I enjoy. I have found my sound signature and also the right equipment that works for me for both gaming and music.

Having said that would love your thoughts on the list and also your own audio journey.

You can find the full list with associated disclaimers and short TLDR.

KAC's Audio Rankings

There is a sea of headphones I haven’t tried. I can only try what is available to me. But think it might be helpful for someone who is looking.

My top ranked headphones after auditions and ownership are (only stock photo is Susvara as I forgot to snap it on Can Jam).

Susvara Unveiled
HE1000 Unveiled
HE-1
Arya Stealth
Arya Unveiled
Susvara
Caldera Open
Elite
Utopia
LCD-X
Maxwell 2
Composer
E3
Stellia
480 Pro

What I own currently is also listed in the file. LMK your thoughts. I will add a recommendation section to file soon for each budget. It may include things I haven’t personally tried yet but researched enough to recommend them.

EDIT 1: I finished the gaming list as it was a bit easier to do. Music list coming soon!

Wanted to do a quick review of the HE1000 Unveiled after spending time with it and comparing it against the Arya Unveiled, Arya Stealth, and Edition XV.

This is obviously my own opinion and sound is subjective, so different people may hear things differently. I am not trying to write a technical measurement-based review. This is just how I hear it. All headphones were purchased by myself and this is not sponsored or influenced by anyone.

I mainly care about:

• Resolution / detail
• Smoothness
• Separation and layering
• Soundstage and imaging
• Bass quality and impact
• Gaming performance
• Whether it actually feels “endgame” or just another expensive sidegrade

Overall Impression

The HE1000 Unveiled is the first headphone I’ve tried where I immediately felt: okay, this is clearly a different tier.

Not “5% better if you listen really hard” better.

More like: the whole presentation feels cleaner, more open, more effortless, and more complete.

It has that big Hifiman planar presentation, but it sounds more refined than Arya Stealth, more resolving than Arya Unveiled, and more mature than Edition XV.

It is not perfect, but damn, it is my endgame *lol*.

Resolution / Detail

This is where the HE1000 Unveiled really flexes.

The detail is not forced. It does not scream “look at me, I am detailed” by stabbing you with treble. It just presents more information more naturally.

Small background sounds, texture in vocals, reverb trails, tiny spatial cues — they are all easier to hear.

Compared to:

• Arya Unveiled: Arya Unveiled has a fuller and more musical presentation, but HE1000 Unveiled pulls ahead in micro-detail, separation, openness, and overall clarity.
• Arya Stealth: Stealth is already very detailed, but HE1000 Unveiled sounds cleaner and more effortless. Arya Stealth can sometimes feel like it is pushing detail at you.
• Edition XV: Edition XV is fun and musical, but the HE1000 Unveiled makes it sound noticeably less refined and less technically clean.

Score: 9.5/10

Smoothness / Treble

This was one of the biggest surprises for me.

The treble is extended and airy, but it does not have that annoying sharpness I sometimes get from Arya Stealth.

Arya Stealth can be amazing for gaming and detail, but with stock pads it can get spicy or shrill for me. I use Dekoni Elite Velour pads on Arya Stealth to tame the treble. The trade-off is that you sacrifice a bit of stage, but comfort improves massively, and it becomes much easier for non-stop gaming and music sessions.

HE1000 Unveiled gives me the detail, air, and openness without needing that same level of taming.

Compared to Arya Unveiled, this is also where the HE1000 Unveiled clearly pulls ahead for me. Arya Unveiled has great body and musicality, but it lacks some air up top. HE1000 Unveiled has more extension, more openness, and more of that “floating detail” feeling.

It is not dark. It is not rolled off. It still has a lot of sparkle and openness.

But it is smoother, more polished, and less fatiguing than Arya Stealth.

Score: 9/10

Bass / Slam / Impact

This is not a basshead headphone.

If you want Audeze-style physical slam or closed-back punch, this is not that. But the bass quality is excellent.

It is clean, fast, textured, and extends well into sub-bass. It does not sound bloated or muddy. It gives you bass when the track asks for it, but it does not artificially thicken everything.

Compared to Arya Unveiled, I actually feel Arya Unveiled can sometimes sound a little fuller and more body-rich. But HE1000 Unveiled is tighter, cleaner, and more controlled.

Compared to Arya Stealth, HE1000 Unveiled has better bass texture and sounds less dry.

Compared to Edition XV, Edition XV might feel more “fun” in some tracks, but HE1000 Unveiled is simply cleaner and more grown up.

Score: 8.5/10

Soundstage

The stage is huge, but more importantly, it is useful.

Some headphones sound wide but vague. The HE1000 Unveiled sounds wide, tall, open, and properly layered.

It gives you this “everything has space to breathe” feeling. Busy tracks are easier to follow. Instruments are not fighting each other. Sounds do not collapse into a wall of noise.

Compared to:

• Arya Unveiled: Arya Unveiled sounds big and immersive, but HE1000 Unveiled separates space better and has more air up top.
• Arya Stealth: Arya Stealth has a massive stage and is still amazing, especially for gaming. With Dekoni Elite Velour pads, I lose a bit of that stock stage, but I gain comfort and smoother treble, which is a worthwhile trade-off for long sessions.
• Edition XV: Edition XV has a nice musical stage, but it is not on the same technical level.

Score: 9.5/10

Imaging / Directionality

Imaging is excellent.

For gaming, this matters a lot to me. I want to know where the sound is coming from, not just that “something happened somewhere.”

HE1000 Unveiled is extremely precise. Footsteps, reloads, shields, distant shots, movement cues — everything is easier to place.

Arya Unveiled is more cinematic and full-bodied, but HE1000 Unveiled is more technically accurate.

Arya Stealth is still one of the best gaming headphones I have used and honestly still ridiculous for competitive play. With R2R and Velour pads, it is endless hours of gaming fun.

HE1000 Unveiled gives you similar or better placement while sounding more natural, smoother, and more refined.

Score: 9.5/10

Separation / Layering

This is probably the biggest reason the HE1000 Unveiled feels special.

When a track gets busy, it does not panic.

It keeps things separated. Vocals, drums, guitars, synths, background details — everything has its own lane.

Arya Unveiled is very good, but HE1000 Unveiled feels more effortless and more open, especially up top.

Arya Stealth has strong separation too, but HE1000 Unveiled does it with more refinement and less edge.

This is where cheaper or lower-tier headphones start sounding congested. Edition XV is enjoyable, but when music gets complex, HE1000 Unveiled clearly separates itself.

Score: 10/10

Vocals

Vocals are clean, open, and detailed.

They are not overly warm or thick. If you like very intimate, lush, forward vocals, this may not be the absolute best headphone for that.

But the vocal clarity is excellent. You hear texture, breath, and detail without grain.

Arya Unveiled may have a bit more body and emotional weight in some vocals. HE1000 Unveiled sounds more transparent, more open, and more refined.

Arya Stealth and to an extent Edition XV may sound recessed in vocals especially when you A/B against the HE1000 Unveiled.

Score: 8.5/10

Music Performance

For music, this is easily one of the best headphones I have heard.

It works especially well with:

• Pop
• Rock
• Acoustic
• Orchestral / cinematic music
• Layered tracks
• Anything where separation and staging matter

It makes music sound expensive. Not artificially boosted. Just clean, open, and high-end.

The only area where I might want more is bass punch or vocal warmth depending on mood. But technically, it is incredible.

HE1000 Unveiled gives me the missing air, openness, and extra resolution up top compared to the other Hifimans.

Score: 9.5/10

Gaming Performance

For gaming, this thing is stupid good.

In competitive games, it gives you excellent directionality, distance, and separation. You can hear footsteps and small cues clearly without the sound becoming a harsh mess.

Arya Stealth is still a monster for gaming and honestly might remain the better “value” pick if all you care about is competitive sound cues.

But HE1000 Unveiled gives you the gaming performance plus a much smoother, more premium, more refined sound.

It is like Arya Stealth went to finishing school.

Score: 9.5/10

Comfort / Build

Comfort is typical Hifiman egg-shaped comfort: light enough, big cups, easy to wear.

The Unveiled design obviously means you need to be more careful. This is not a headphone I would throw around casually.

It feels more like a delicate high-end instrument than a tank.

So yes, amazing sound. But also yes, don’t be stupid with it.

Score: 8/10

Compared to Arya Stealth

Arya Stealth is sharper, drier, and more aggressive.

It is amazing for detail and gaming, but with stock pads it can get fatiguing depending on the track.

HE1000 Unveiled is smoother, more resolving, more spacious, and more refined.

Arya Stealth still gives insane performance for the money, but HE1000 Unveiled is the better headphone.

Compared to Arya Unveiled

Arya Unveiled is fuller, more musical, and has a very enjoyable body to the sound.

But for me, Arya Unveiled lacks some air up top. It has the body and the musicality, but it does not quite have that same treble extension, openness, and floating-detail feeling that HE1000 Unveiled gives.

HE1000 Unveiled is more resolving, more layered, more spacious, and more technically complete.

Arya Unveiled is fun and engaging. HE1000 Unveiled feels like the flagship version of that idea.

Compared to Edition XV

Edition XV is a great value musical headphone. I still respect it.

But HE1000 Unveiled is just in another league technically.

More detail, more separation, better imaging, cleaner treble, bigger stage, better refinement.

Edition XV is fun and best money you can spend around the 400$ mark IMO. HE1000 Unveiled is serious.

Final Score

HE1000 Unveiled: 9.5/10

This is probably the closest I have heard to my personal ideal sound:

• Huge stage
• Excellent imaging
• Crazy separation
• Smooth treble
• High resolution
• Clean bass
• Proper air up top
• Not overly sharp
• Not boring
• Not congested

It is not cheap and it is not a bass monster.

But if your goal is detail, space, layering, smoothness, air, and that “holy crap this sounds high-end” feeling, then yeah — this thing is special.

For me, this is the first headphone where I genuinely felt: this could be the one.

Wanted to do a quick review of the Fresh Reviews Arete 2 vs the Kiwi Ears Astral.

Both were purchased by me. This is not sponsored, not influenced by anyone, and nobody asked me to write this. I wish someone had done a practical comparison that would have helped guide my own decision, but unfortunately, I had to find out the expensive way.

I’ll keep this short and sweet with bullets rather than a giant essay.

Also, like everything in audio, this is subjective. These scores are based on how I hear things, my ears, my preferences, my use case, and my gear. You may hear things differently, and that is completely fine.

My review focuses on both gaming and music.

All content is my own. AI helped me generate the tables to be posted on reddit.

What matters to me for gaming

For gaming, the most important categories for me are:

• Imaging / directionality precision
• Soundstage
• Layering and separation
• Fatigue, especially from elevated bass or treble
• Comfort, including shell size, seal, tip rolling, long sessions, and ear pressure
• Resolution

I mostly care about whether I can place sounds accurately, whether the mix gets congested, and whether I can play for hours without my ears getting annoyed.

What matters to me for music

For music, the most important categories for me are:

• Layering and separation, especially in busy tracks
• Bass / sub-bass quality and quantity
• Bass decay, meaning whether bass is fast and clean or slower and more lingering
• Timbre and naturalness
• Forward vocals vs shout
• Treble peaks, especially around 2–4K and 8–10K
• Air, especially 10K+ tuning
• Resolution

I am treble-sensitive, so harshness matters a lot to me. I like detail, separation, and energy, but not when it turns into fatigue.

Quick TL;DR

The Astral is the more immediately exciting IEM.

It has more energy, more bass presence, more sparkle, and more “look at me” factor. But in gaming, that extra energy works against it for me. It can overwhelm my senses and make individual cues harder to isolate.

The Arete 2 is less flashy, but more controlled, more precise, and easier to use in actual gameplay. I can more reliably hear footsteps, shields, reloads, and positional cues on the Arete 2.

Gaming Comparison

Imaging / Directionality Precision

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 gives me cleaner directional cues.
• It is easier to tell where sounds are coming from.
• Footsteps, reloads, shields, and small positional cues are easier to isolate.
• Astral still images well, but the extra energy makes it harder for me to lock onto individual cues consistently.
• Astral can overwhelm my senses, especially when a lot is happening.

For competitive gaming, I trust the Arete 2 more.

Soundstage

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 gives me a more useful gaming stage.
• The stage feels wider and more readable to me in actual gameplay.
• More importantly, sounds have better placement inside that stage.
• Astral still has a good stage, but it does not give me the same sense of usable width.
• Astral sounds more energetic, but not more spacious for gaming.
• The extra bass/treble energy makes the stage feel busier rather than bigger.

For gaming stage, Arete 2 wins for me.

Layering and Separation

Winner: Arete 2

• This is one of the biggest differences.
• Arete 2 lets individual sounds exist separately.
• Footsteps, shields, reloads, distant gunfire, and environmental cues are easier to pick apart.
• Astral throws a lot of information at me, but individuality gets lost more easily.
• When the mix gets busy, Astral becomes more overwhelming.
• Arete 2 is calmer and more organized.

For cue separation, Arete 2 is better.

Fatigue

Winner: Arete 2

• Astral is more exciting, but also more fatiguing.
• The extra bass and treble energy can wear me down over longer sessions.
• Arete 2 is smoother and easier to tolerate.
• I can play longer on Arete 2 without thinking about treble, pressure, or tip rolling as much.

This is one of the biggest differences for me.

Comfort

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 is easier for me to wear for longer periods.
• Less ear pressure.
• Easier seal.
• Astral is not terrible, but I was more aware of it in my ears.

Comfort is obviously personal, but for me, Arete 2 wins.

Resolution

Winner: Arete 2 for gaming

• Astral has more perceived detail because it is more energetic.
• Arete 2 gives me cleaner usable detail.
• I can pick out small cues more reliably.
• Astral can make everything sound more intense, but not necessarily more readable.

For gaming resolution, Arete 2 wins because the detail is easier to use.

Music Comparison

Bass / Sub-Bass

Winner: Astral

• Astral has more bass quantity and more physicality.
• Sub-bass feels more obvious.
• It sounds bigger and more fun.
• Arete 2 bass is tighter and cleaner, but less exciting.

For bass impact and fun, Astral wins.

Bass Decay

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 sounds faster and cleaner to me.
• Bass does not linger as much.
• Astral has more bass presence, but that can also make it feel thicker.
• On busy tracks, Arete 2 keeps things a little cleaner.

If you want bigger bass, Astral.
If you want cleaner bass behavior, Arete 2.

Layering and Separation in Busy Tracks

Winner: Arete 2

• Astral can sound very impressive on simpler tracks.
• But when tracks get busy, the extra energy can make things feel more intense.
• Arete 2 handles busy passages in a more controlled way.
• It does not throw detail at you as aggressively, but it is easier to follow.

For busy tracks, I prefer Arete 2.

Timbre / Naturalness

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 sounds more natural to me.
• Vocals and instruments feel less exaggerated.
• Astral has more excitement, but can sound a bit more colored.
• Arete 2 is less “wow,” but more believable.

For naturalness, Arete 2 wins.

Vocals: Forward vs Shout

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 gives me vocals without pushing them too far. However, can be shouty in some tracks.
• Astral can be more vivid, but can also edge closer to shout depending on the track.
• If you are sensitive to upper mids, Astral may be riskier.

Arete 2 is safer here.

Treble Peaks: 2–4K and 8–10K

Winner: Arete 2

• This is another major category for me.
• Astral has more treble excitement, but also more potential spice.
• I am sensitive around 2–4K and 8–10K, and Astral triggered that more often.
• Arete 2 is smoother and less annoying in those areas.

Astral has more sparkle.
Arete 2 has less pain.

Air / 10K+ Tuning

Winner: Astral

• Astral has more air and openness up top.
• It sounds more extended and sparkly.
• Arete 2 is smoother, but also less airy.
• If you like that open, brighter “hi-fi” top end, Astral does that more obviously.

For air, Astral wins.

Music Resolution

Winner: Astral, but with caveats

• Astral gives more perceived resolution.
• It sounds more detailed and open.
• But some of that comes from the brighter tuning.
• Arete 2 is less flashy, but easier to listen to for longer.
• On busy tracks, I still prefer Arete 2 because the detail is less forced and easier to follow.

For pure “wow, I hear more stuff,” Astral wins.
For relaxed busy-track listening, Arete 2 is better for me.

Scores

These are not objective scores. This is just how I personally rate them for my use case.

Gaming Scores

Category	Arete 2	Astral
Imaging / Directionality	9	8.5
Soundstage	8.5	8
Layering / Separation	9	7
Fatigue Control	9	7
Comfort	9	7.5
Resolution	8.5	8
Gaming Overall	8.8	7.7

Music Scores

Category	Arete 2	Astral
Bass Quantity	7.5	9
Bass Quality / Decay	8.5	8
Layering / Separation	8.5	8
Timbre / Naturalness	8.5	7.5
Vocals	8.5	7.5
Treble Smoothness	9	7
Air / Extension	7.5	9
Resolution	8	8.5
Music Overall	8.3	8.0

Final Verdict

The Kiwi Ears Astral is the more exciting IEM.

It has more bass, more sparkle, more air, and more immediate wow-factor. If you listen quickly, Astral can seem more impressive.

But for me, the Fresh Reviews Arete 2 is the better IEM for actual use, especially gaming.

Arete 2 gives me better directionality, better usable soundstage, better cue separation, better comfort, and less fatigue. I can more reliably hear footsteps, shields, reloads, and small positional cues. Astral sounds more energetic, but that energy can overwhelm my senses and make individual sounds harder to isolate.

For me:

Pick Astral if you want:

• More bass
• More sparkle
• More air
• More excitement
• More immediate wow-factor
• A more energetic music-first listen

Pick Arete 2 if you want:

• Better gaming precision
• Better usable soundstage
• Better cue separation
• Smoother treble
• Better comfort
• Less fatigue
• More natural mids
• Cleaner long-session listening

My personal final scores:

Fresh Reviews Arete 2: 8.6 / 10
Kiwi Ears Astral: 7.9 / 10

The Astral is more exciting.
The Arete 2 is more useful.

And for my use case, useful wins.

Wanted to do a quick review of the Fresh Reviews Arete 2 vs the Kiwi Ears Astral.

Both were purchased by me. This is not sponsored, not influenced by anyone, and nobody asked me to write this. I wish someone had done a practical comparison that would have helped guide my own decision, but unfortunately I had to find out the expensive way.

I’ll keep this short and sweet with bullets rather than a giant essay.

Also, like everything in audio, this is subjective. These scores are based on how I hear things, my ears, my preferences, my use case, and my gear. You may hear things differently, and that is completely fine.

My review focuses on both gaming and music.

What matters to me for gaming

For gaming, the most important categories for me are:

• Imaging / directionality precision
• Soundstage
• Layering and separation
• Fatigue, especially from elevated bass or treble
• Comfort, including shell size, seal, tip rolling, long sessions, and ear pressure
• Resolution

I mostly care about whether I can place sounds accurately, whether the mix gets congested, and whether I can play for hours without my ears getting annoyed.

What matters to me for music

For music, the most important categories for me are:

• Layering and separation, especially in busy tracks
• Bass / sub-bass quality and quantity
• Bass decay, meaning whether bass is fast and clean or slower and more lingering
• Timbre and naturalness
• Forward vocals vs shout
• Treble peaks, especially around 2–4K and 8–10K
• Air, especially 10K+ tuning
• Resolution

I am treble-sensitive, so harshness matters a lot to me. I like detail, separation, and energy, but not when it turns into fatigue.

Quick TL;DR

The Astral is the more immediately exciting IEM.

It has more energy, more bass presence, more sparkle, and more “look at me” factor. But in gaming, that extra energy works against it for me. It can overwhelm my senses and make individual cues harder to isolate.

The Arete 2 is less flashy, but more controlled, more precise, and easier to use in actual gameplay. I can more reliably hear footsteps, shields, reloads, and positional cues on the Arete 2.

Gaming Comparison

Imaging / Directionality Precision

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 gives me cleaner directional cues.
• It is easier to tell where sounds are coming from.
• Footsteps, reloads, shields, and small positional cues are easier to isolate.
• Astral still images well, but the extra energy makes it harder for me to lock onto individual cues consistently.
• Astral can overwhelm my senses, especially when a lot is happening.

For competitive gaming, I trust the Arete 2 more.

Soundstage

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 gives me a more useful gaming stage.
• The stage feels wider and more readable to me in actual gameplay.
• More importantly, sounds have better placement inside that stage.
• Astral still has a good stage, but it does not give me the same sense of usable width.
• Astral sounds more energetic, but not more spacious for gaming.
• The extra bass/treble energy makes the stage feel busier rather than bigger.

For gaming stage, Arete 2 wins for me.

Layering and Separation

Winner: Arete 2

• This is one of the biggest differences.
• Arete 2 lets individual sounds exist separately.
• Footsteps, shields, reloads, distant gunfire, and environmental cues are easier to pick apart.
• Astral throws a lot of information at me, but individuality gets lost more easily.
• When the mix gets busy, Astral becomes more overwhelming.
• Arete 2 is calmer and more organized.

For cue separation, Arete 2 is better.

Fatigue

Winner: Arete 2

• Astral is more exciting, but also more fatiguing.
• The extra bass and treble energy can wear me down over longer sessions.
• Arete 2 is smoother and easier to tolerate.
• I can play longer on Arete 2 without thinking about treble, pressure, or tip rolling as much.

This is one of the biggest differences for me.

Comfort

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 is easier for me to wear for longer periods.
• Less ear pressure.
• Easier seal.
• Less tip drama.
• Astral is not terrible, but I was more aware of it in my ears.

Comfort is obviously personal, but for me, Arete 2 wins.

Resolution

Winner: Arete 2 for gaming

• Astral has more perceived detail at first because it is more energetic.
• But in actual gaming, that does not help me as much.
• Arete 2 gives me cleaner usable detail.
• I can pick out small cues more reliably.
• Astral can make everything sound more intense, but not necessarily more readable.

For gaming resolution, Arete 2 wins because the detail is easier to use.

Music Comparison

Bass / Sub-Bass

Winner: Astral

• Astral has more bass quantity and more physicality.
• Sub-bass feels more obvious.
• It sounds bigger and more fun.
• Arete 2 bass is tighter and cleaner, but less exciting.

For bass impact and fun, Astral wins.

Bass Decay

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 sounds faster and cleaner to me.
• Bass does not linger as much.
• Astral has more bass presence, but that can also make it feel thicker.
• On busy tracks, Arete 2 keeps things a little cleaner.

If you want bigger bass, Astral.
If you want cleaner bass behavior, Arete 2.

Layering and Separation in Busy Tracks

Winner: Arete 2

• Astral can sound very impressive on simpler tracks.
• But when tracks get busy, the extra energy can make things feel more intense.
• Arete 2 handles busy passages in a more controlled way.
• It does not throw detail at you as aggressively, but it is easier to follow.

For busy tracks, I prefer Arete 2.

Timbre / Naturalness

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 sounds more natural to me.
• Vocals and instruments feel less exaggerated.
• Astral has more excitement, but can sound a bit more colored.
• Arete 2 is less “wow,” but more believable.

For naturalness, Arete 2 wins.

Vocals: Forward vs Shout

Winner: Arete 2

• Arete 2 gives me vocals without pushing them too far.
• Astral can be more vivid, but can also edge closer to shout depending on the track.
• If you are sensitive to upper mids, Astral may be riskier.

Arete 2 is safer here.

Treble Peaks: 2–4K and 8–10K

Winner: Arete 2

• This is another major category for me.
• Astral has more treble excitement, but also more potential spice.
• I am sensitive around 2–4K and 8–10K, and Astral triggered that more often.
• Arete 2 is smoother and less annoying in those areas.

Astral has more sparkle.
Arete 2 has less pain.

Air / 10K+ Tuning

Winner: Astral

• Astral has more air and openness up top.
• It sounds more extended and sparkly.
• Arete 2 is smoother, but also less airy.
• If you like that open, brighter “hi-fi” top end, Astral does that more obviously.

For air, Astral wins.

Music Resolution

Winner: Astral, but with caveats

• Astral gives more perceived resolution.
• It sounds more detailed and open.
• But some of that comes from the brighter tuning.
• Arete 2 is less flashy, but easier to listen to for longer.
• On busy tracks, I still prefer Arete 2 because the detail is less forced and easier to follow.

For pure “wow, I hear more stuff,” Astral wins.
For relaxed busy-track listening, Arete 2 is better for me.

Scores

These are not objective scores. This is just how I personally rate them for my use case.

Gaming Scores

Category	Arete 2	Astral
Imaging / Directionality	9	8.5
Soundstage	8.5	8
Layering / Separation	9	7
Fatigue Control	9	7
Comfort	9	7.5
Resolution	8.5	8
Gaming Overall	8.8	7.7

Music Scores

Category	Arete 2	Astral
Bass Quantity	7.5	9
Bass Quality / Decay	8.5	8
Layering / Separation	8.5	8
Timbre / Naturalness	8.5	7.5
Vocals	8.5	7.5
Treble Smoothness	9	7
Air / Extension	7.5	9
Resolution	8	8.5
Music Overall	8.3	8.0

Final Verdict

The Kiwi Ears Astral is the more exciting IEM.

It has more bass, more sparkle, more air, and more immediate wow-factor. If you listen quickly, Astral can seem more impressive.

But for me, the Fresh Reviews Arete 2 is the better IEM for actual use, especially gaming.

Arete 2 gives me better directionality, better usable soundstage, better cue separation, better comfort, and less fatigue. I can more reliably hear footsteps, shields, reloads, and small positional cues. Astral sounds more energetic, but that energy can overwhelm my senses and make individual sounds harder to isolate.

For me:

Pick Astral if you want:

• More bass
• More sparkle
• More air
• More excitement
• More immediate wow-factor
• A more energetic listen

Pick Arete 2 if you want:

• Better gaming precision
• Better usable soundstage
• Better cue separation
• Smoother treble
• Better comfort
• Less fatigue
• More natural mids
• Cleaner long-session listening

My personal final scores:

Fresh Reviews Arete 2: 8.6 / 10
Kiwi Ears Astral: 7.9 / 10

The Astral is more exciting.
The Arete 2 is more useful.

And for my use case, useful wins. Hope this helps someone.

Finding these better than the cans. More convenience especially while lying in bed. Great sound.

EQ +8, +6, and +4. Beats my Air Pods Pro 2.