Gonna have a busy couple of weekends limit testing these...pretty excited though

OoopusX is a rather new audiophile brand and their second release is the Op.22. After hearing some hype for this IEM, I was quite eager to try this out and see how it stacks up to other sub-50$ sets. This unit was graciously provided to me for a week by u/Josephhri. You can check out his channel here!

Disclaimer: A big thanks to Shenzhen Audio for originally providing this review unit. Thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not restricted or instructed to say particular things about this set.

Subjective Preferences, Sources and Tracks

I currently own the Ziigaat Lush and Truthear Hexa and these serve as my benchmarks. The TRN Black Pearl was used as the DAC/Amp for most of my testing. I typically prefer balanced sets that are tuned to the JM-1 target; a little bass or treble boost doesn’t hurt though.

Most of my library consists of rock with some jazz, metal, pop and orchestra sprinkled about. If your library is filled with EDM, rap or hip-hop, then your conclusion might be very different from mine.

Testing Tracks - YouTube Music | Apple Music

Build, Fit & Accessories

The Op.22 features a lightweight, plastic shell with decent build quality for the asking price of 35$ (3500 INR). I quite like the cyberpunk aesthetic and it stands out amongst its competitors. There is no semicustom shape to the inside of the shell and the nozzle is quite short and narrow. This may lead to better comfort for people with smaller ears, but I had to use eartips one size larger to create an effective seal.

The cable behaves quite well although it is unfortunately QDC and has no chin slider. I did not find it exceptionally comfortable with the QDC connector digging into my left ear. This could be rectified easily by forming the earhooks with a heat gun. The tuning mode dial feels solid and is quite satisfying to turn. I did not receive the full outer packaging but it is quite minimal. Enough waffling about the accessories, let's move on to the sound!

Sound

Bass

With the default tuning, the first thing you notice is the wonderful separation and imaging. In busy tracks like Tool’s Pneuma or Rush’s The Spirit of Radio, the bass guitars, kick drums and toms remain well distinguished with good body and timbre. The bass texture is lacking some crispness but this can be remedied to some extent with tip rolling. On Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, I turn the dial to add more rumble and slam while retaining mostly clear vocals. I found it easy and rewarding to switch between the tunings for every track or even sections of a single track. On Mountains by Hans Zimmer, I am able to savour the low percussion impact by turning the dial before the crescendo. The Op.22 demonstrates flexible and well-rounded lows that will satisfy nearly everyone but the extreme bassheads.

Mids

After my usual assortment of tracks, I did not have much to note down, because this set rarely places a misstep. The wonderful jazz album Clear Day by singer Emilie-Claire Barlow, in particular the cover of Coldplay’s Fix You, is the perfect album to test out the mids. From the thick bass to the light piano to the rich vocals, the Op.22 showcases brilliant timbre and tonality. As the track gets busier, every instrument of the Metropole Orkest remains well separated and imaged. Vocals are presented and layered extremely well without being pushed too forward.

Although some may prefer the relaxed upper mids, I was left wanting a bit more air and extension around 2kHZ for female vocalists with a higher octave range Adele or Celine Dion. For male vocals and guitar heavy tracks I would’ve preferred some more body from the lower mids around 500Hz. There are minor nitpicks that can be ironed with a handful of parametric EQ filters. OoopusX has settled for once and for all that excellent mids can be achieved on the tightest of budgets!

Treble

Overall, the treble is quite smooth and never falters into sibilance or shout. The upper treble and air in particular is well tamed. Violins and horns sound excellent with wonderful timbre. This set is fatigue free for long sessions and despite this quality, it does not lack resolution or detail. The intro to Saagara Shayana Vibho (A Prelude) by Agam has well mastered bird sounds that are staged accurately. Not many IEMs set themselves apart so well at this affordable price point.

However, all is not smooth sailing for the Op.22. There is a notable plateau in the lower and mid treble from about 3 to 7kHz. Transients of cymbal and drum hits are a bit harsh and unnatural. This is my only major gripe with this set but can be remedied with EQ again. It is still much better through the highs than plenty of other IEMs available.

Tuning Dial

The difference between the two dial positions is stark and it is easy to swap between them on the fly. One does not need to fiddle about with tiny switches, screws or nozzles to change the entire mood. With the dial turned to the bass mode, the mid bass packs an impactful punch. There is some bleed and muddiness but it is a worthwhile sacrifice to make for the few tracks that demand it.

Eartips

OoopusX provides two sets of eartips – regular silicone eartips and sticky Penon Liqueur-like tips. The regular silicone tips do not seal well for me and the bass is noticeable lighter and treble was smoother. The tackier tips sacrifice treble smoothness for excellent bass quantity and a tight seal. KBear Coffee tips with their wide bore and flange fit quite well with this set. The bass quality and texture improve noticeably and the Coffee remains my preferred tip on yet another IEM.

Comparisons

Kefine Klean SV

The Klean SV is the new and improved version of the Klean but it still doesn’t compete with the ooopusX. The Op.22 has better mids and smoother upper treble but has the same mid treble lift that plagues the SV, albeit to a lesser extent. Vocals have more energy on the Kefine but timbre is worse. Perceived technicalities are simply superior on the Op.22. The Klean SV is the better pick if you want a more V-shaped and dynamic tuning.

Tangzu Yu Xuan Ji

The Yu Xuan Ji is an underrated release from Tangzu that was a standout offering for its excellent stage, imaging and resolution. Compared to the Op.22 however, the forward Tangzu upper mids makes it sound thin, honky and shouty. The bass quantity is elevated on the YXJ and it retains excellent bass texture with the right tips. Through the lower and mid treble, the YXJ is simply smoother to my ears. It has a notable 8kHz peak and plenty of air but remains smooth to my ears. Perceived technicalities are excellent but the Op.22 matches it and surpasses the YXJ on tonality and timbre.

Truthear Hexa

The Op.22 comes incredibly close to matching what the Hexa offers for over twice the price. The lack of refinement in the lower treble unfortunately means that it falls a bit short to my ears. The Hexa offers more rumble and excellent bass texture. It presents vocals with a touch more intensity and air and remains smoother till the 8kHz resonance peak. For some, the Hexa may sound much brighter but for my I entirely prefer it. The stunning staging, imaging and separation on busy tracks is where the Hexa continues to display its crown as the budget neutral king.

Verdict

The Op.22 is now my default recommendation for those looking for a neutral, JM-1 tuned set even at twice it’s asking price. With just their second release, ooopusX have managed to offer a refined and mature set with class-leading tonality, timbre and technicalities. The tuning dial appears gimmicky just like the swappable nozzles or poor DSP implementations of competitors, but it is functional and offers a meaningful change. I am eager to see what ooopusX crafts next, particularly if they can continue refining their sound, accessories and material quality.

Who should buy it? Those who want a mature, neutral JM-1 tuning, an affordable platform for easy parametric EQ or a fun physical bass boost.

Who should not buy it? Those who prefer V-shaped tunings and gob loads of bass as well as those who can’t deal with elevated mid treble and QDC.

Head-Fi Rating: 4.5/5 (inclusive of price to performance)
Personal Tierlist Rating: 6.6/10

Pros:

- Excellent tonal balance for the price

- Clean and forward vocal presentation

- Airy presentation (Upper treble emphasis)

- Great comfort (Small shells, lightweight)

- Great cable handling, does not tangle easily (see Cons)

Cons:

- Modest amount of bass, while it’s a sub-bass over mid-bass presentation. Not much rumble & thump.

- Cheap-feeling cable, 90 degrees terminations and no chin-slider (nitpick)

- IEM build quality feels cheap (nitpick)

DISCLAIMER:

NiceHCK sent this set to me as a review sample to keep. There will undoubtedly be subconscious bias as human psychology - I'm not about to deny that. However, I will be as honest as I can possibly be given these circumstances. Don't take my word for it, watch some of my TikTok reviews and see it for yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s be real. The $25 price bracket is insanely saturated. We have the 7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero:2, the Moondrop Chu 2, Tangzu Wan’er SG II, Truthear Gate, Tanchjim Bunny, etc.

The NiceHCK Tears received a lot of hype, so of course, I had to try it.

The NiceHCK Tears utilises 1x dynamic driver on each side. The product page does not matter the size of the dynamic driver, not the material.

The NiceHCK Tears retails for $29 USD, but is going for $24 (3.5mm, no mic) on discount at the time of writing.

UNBOXING/ACCESSORIES:

• 5 pairs of eartips, S, MS, M, L, XL (medium-bore)
• Black faux leather carrying case
• 3.5mm Cable – Non-detachable terminations, 2-core Silver-coloured cable, 90 degree (right-angle) termination. I like this cable, as it doesn’t tangle easily, not stiff, and has a working chin slider.
• Leather clip for cable
• The NiceHCK Tears IEMs themselves.

         

BUILD & DESIGN:
They feel like a budget IEM, cheap and lightweight. Not an issue for me as it’s a $25 IEM after all.

It’s shape is a pentagon, and unique for sure. It’s a small shell.

COMFORT:
Due to the small shell and rounded corners, comfort was great. The stock eartips (M size) worked well for me. I wore it for hours in multiple gaming sessions and forgot that they were in my ears.

SOUND:

• Testing Gear: Topping DX1, DX5 II, Ifi Zen DAC V1, Ifi Zen CAN V3 (from DX5 II LO Balanced), QKZ TC Pro Max
• Are they hard to drive? No. Very easy in fact - 60% on a 30mW@32ohm dongle is borderline deafening. They scale with volume a lot, so this set sounds exceptionally better at louder volumes.

General Sound Signature:
Mild V-shaped. Modest bass, forward midrange. Treble has sparkle and decent extension and non-fatiguing.

BASS:
Tears uses a sub-bass over mid-bass approach, but there’s just a modest amount of sub-bass. So, neither does it rumble nor does it thump. Bass is just… there and does not draw any attention. ‘Clean’ is a word that I’m going to be using a lot in this review. Due to all of this, bass remains very clean and does not muddy up the mix at all.

MIDRANGE:
Vocals on the Tears just sound really good. Once again, lower midrange is tucked in, so instead of a warm/lush vocal presentation, vocals and instruments in the midrange stand out and are of a more clean/neutral presentation. They sound natural though a little sterile.

TREBLE:

Treble is non-fatiguing in general. It rolls off slowly from the lower-midrange onwards, until the upper treble, which affects detail. Music sounds slightly airy in general, while still remaining natural. Once again, the Tears masters tonal balance and something that is rarely found at this price, apart from something like the Tanchjim Bunny.

Timbre: Natural. Everything sounds correct.

Details: Average for the price. General detail feels a little bit diminished, but still decent nonetheless.

Imaging/Separation: Average, still good. Nothing really stood out.

Soundstage/Spaciousness: Above average, due to the natural and extended treble. Soundstage is wider than it is deep.

Conclusion:

This beats out every sub $30 IEM for me in the current market. This is just what I’m looking for as a relaxing, easy-to-listen-to IEM that sits comfortably. If it just had a touch more bass, it would be near perfect for the price. It goes into my recommendation list with my top pick label. Great job, NiceHCK!

Thank you for reading! And catch y’all in the next one. 👋

Here's the AliExpress link (Non-affiliated): https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005010414508304.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra

Got to spend some time with the Winter II, first impression is really promising....it is my second favorite after the YU9 QUE. It is very underrated, It is really detailed without the usual BA/mPL shimmer/sparkle, it feels warm mid centric IEM with rich not so forward vocals...very good textured mids, mature treble no fatigue what so ever, punchy and controlled bass...really really underrated and punches way above its weight. Not to mention the full metal build, the amazing cable or the classy case, the eartips that it comes with are very underwhelming tho! And IEM itself requires a bit of tip rolling.

I tried it a bit vs TEA Pro, the Winter II is noteaceably warmer with more textured mids and richer vocals, bass is also more textured and rumblier, the TEA pro has more shimmer and zing of the BAs and more forward vocals...basically imagine the WINTER II as a RAW unedited image with good quality, while the TEA Pro is a tastefully sharpened image. Will do more in-depth comparisons and analysis later.

If youd like here is a video version: https://youtu.be/JEHqDtn-cO0?si=ZrXykpqU-F9\_9yvj

What happens when effortless and naturalness come in one package and delivers one hell of authentic experience? How are you suppose to react to that? That's what I am feeling at this moment with Nightjar Singularity seating flush in my ears tickling my ears and intoxicating my music addeled brain.

I really don't know how to react to this. Words can't do justice to my exact feelings and how it's affecting me. At one point I am in disbelief what this set is delivering and next point I am asking myself is it true or am I under some influence that is making me believe this.

Every note every beat just feels too realistic and it's creating a wide grin on my face. I am in state where I can truly say that my audio nirvana is not far away.

If this continues I will reach it.

From left to right. Hidizs MP145 pro, MP145, MP143 Salt.

I have owned the MP143 Salt for some time now, and I was always curious about thier bigger and older brother, the MP145, as I heard do much about the amazing soundstage.

Anyway, last week I final pulled the trigger and got a pair from CEX in the UK (a used tech store) and then the next day I was offered a pair of the MP145 pro to review (I review a wide range of stuff, so this was utter luck)

This week has been an absolute hidizs party, and today I took the MP145 original back to the shop. The pro and the MP143 make the original 145 obsolete for me.

It was a hard choice as the 145 have a killer bass, but they lack the sparkle of the pro, and if I want bass the 143 or my bass boosted letshuoer S12 pro can step in.

Has anyone else heard both and made the same decision on the pro vs the original? I guess treble isn't for everyone, but on acoustic guitar, electronica, and female vocal tracks, the MP145 pro are exceptional.

The shells are smaller too so they fit better too.

Also, if you have heard the Hidizs family, and the Letshuoer S12 Pro, but yet think you have heard something better, what was it, as I have some store vouchers to burn.

For the record, Ive been on this rabbit hole for more 6 months and I do think my End game is going to be Moondrop Aria 2.

I just checked my cables and saw that both sets of pins are bent in more or less the same way. I have two other sets of IEMs that I’ve swapped cables on multiple times and never had this issue. Anyone experience anything like this?

Disclaimers: Product was sent to me by BirdDance for review. BirdDance does not see this review before I post it. All opinions are my own.

I was contacted by BirdDance last month and was offered a chance to review the Z3. Prior to them contacting me, I had never heard of the brand and was curious what they had to offer for around the 50 USD price range.

Unboxing

The unboxing experience for this price is rather good. Unlike some brands which just include a basic cable and a few ear tips BirdDance has included some decent accessories.

List of Accessories

1. Carry Case
2. 3 sets of ear tips + Foam tips

The case itself is made well, but one complaint I have is that its slightly smaller then I would like it. With just the IEMs the case does become slightly annoying to close. If you have a dongle DAC it would a very tight squeeze.

The tips themselves are of decent quality. Three sets are 1 set of liquid silicone tips, 1 set of narrow bore tips and, 1 set of wide boar tips and 1 set of foam tips. The foam tips included here are of good quality and unlike come form time that come with brands like KZ the tips are not premoulded.

Overall the quality of the accessorizes is good for this price.

Build quality

IEM

A lot of IEMs in this price range are often just full resign built or a metal face plate and the test is made of resign. So its very refreshing to see am IEM in this price range that is completely made of metal. The body of the IEM it made of a stainless steel and has a very reflective finishing.

As most all metal IEMs do these have a decent wait to them. The overall build is very good and does not feel cheap in the slightest. But because of the glossy finishing the IEM does attract fingerprints rather easily.

Cable

The build quality of the cable is average for this price and nothing special. Its a 2 core twist that has a plastic covering around the cables. This covering makes the cable feel slightly on the cheaper side. This cable does have memory too and does get tangled very easily. The ear hooks are slightly stiffer then I would like it but are still comfortable. I didn’t have any issued with microphonics as well when the cables rubs against my shirt.

The hardware on the cable go decent. The 3.5mm jack covering is made of metal as well as the Y split.

Its a decent cable. I would have wanted something that feels slightly less plasticky.

Comfort

I had no issues with comfort with this set. They are not that big and sit well in my ear. No discomfort after long listening sessions as well. I think this will be a good set for people with smaller ears too.

Sound

I would describe these as a warm sounding IEM. The mids are boosted to make the vocals sound more impactful. This set would be a good option for someone looking for a more vocal forward set that doesn’t have peaky or harsh treble.

Bass

This is not a bassy set. The mid bass is punchy and has good decay. The layering and detail on the bass notes is about average for the price, nothing special. The area of impact is also good. The sub bass rumble is not very present tho. The sub bass feels weak and on some tracks it is very easy to tell.

Bass tuning on this set leans more towards mid bass slam and the sub bass rumble feels lackluster.

This is not a bass head set. The bass on this set is good and does not muddy up the lower mids.

Overall bass presentation is decent.

Mids

This is a more vocal forward set. The upper mids are boosted so that both male and female vocals both sound bodied. Both male and female vocals sound rich and full. When it comes to the upper mids this set can sound slightly unnatural and with a slight metallic timber. With most tracks and singers its not a problem but with some female singers who can sign really high, this becomes obvious.

With stringed instruments this sets handles then well. Sometimes they can come off as slightly unnatural sounding.

Even with those problems I mentioned I would still recommend this set to someone looking for a vocal forward set.

Treble

The treble on this set it cut down a bit. This is not for treble heads and this is a very relaxed and laid back listening experience. You can easily listen to this set for hrs without any fatigue. But one problem with cutting the treble this much is that the technical performance of this set takes a hit.

Sometimes the lack of treble energy can make this set kinda sound muted. Details in the treble region are presented will but don’t stand out as much. It can be hard to distinguish between instrument on a more complex track.

The treble presentation on this set is laid back and relaxed. More suited for laid back listening rather then analytical listening.

Technical Performance

The technical performance is on par with DD IEMs at this price range. Stereo separation is good with with channels being clearly defined. I would describe this sound stage as stereo rather then holographic. Separation between instruments is good but distinguishing between multiple instruments and singer can he slightly hard so more complex tracks.

Staging is about average for the price. You don’t get the “In the deal feeling” with this set. Stage width is decent but the height is not as good.

Overall the performance is what I would expect for a DD IEM in this price range.

Specification

Driver Configuration: Dual dynamic driver setup

Frequency Response Range: 10 Hz – 50,000 Hz

Impedance: 32 Ω

Sensitivity: 125 dB/Vrms (@ 1 kHz)

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Excellent build quality
2. Good accessorize
3. Good for vocals
4. Fatigue free listening experience

Cons

1. Upper treble can sometimes sound unnatural
2. Detail retrieval is slightly below average for the price

Conclusion

The build quality of this this is amazing for the price. I can only think of a few sets that as well built as this. This is a warm set so the treble energy is takes down a decent but which I personalty am not a fan of. Sometimes the treble does come off as slightly muted.

This set is great for someone who wants a more laid back and fatigue free listening experiences. But people who are looking for a more details or brighter sounding set then I would looks for other options.

Subjective Rating : 6.5/10 ( Does a lot right but needs further refinement )

Hi, its me iceberg, and here’s a quick review of the Simgot ET142 - 1 planar and 1 PZT hybrid IEMs for $250, released in early 2025, but remains popular among audiophiles thanks to their unique and customizable sound.
So, the shells here are made of mirror-polished metal with a simple design and feature replaceable titanium nozzles with a blue tint. And thanks to their streamlined and friendly ergonomics, they fit comfortably even in small ears, providing excellent sound isolation.

And the main feature of this model is the replaceable nozzles, which dramatically change the sound from a bright W-shaped profile with gold and titanium nozzles, which emphasize the highs but make vocals sound metallic and fatiguing. And more balanced black and red nozzles, which smooth out that metallic tone and deliver a much more pleasant and listenable V-shaped sound with natural highs and emotional upper mids.

Personally I tested these with the Fosi K7 on various tracks, everything from Phil Collins to the Manchester Orchestra and Lana Del Rey, and was very impressed by the textured, deep bass, the lively midrange, and the controlled treble thanks to the damper inside, which smooths out the flaws of the PZT driver. Meanwhile, the soundstage is quite wide and spacious, with clear separation of vocals, instruments, and reverberations.

Overall, I would give the ET142 a 9 out of 10, but only with the right ear tips and a powerful source. For me, this remains a unique model on the market thanks to its combination of planar detail and the airiness of the PZT driver, premium appearance, and system of interchangeable nozzles. And I would even rank it higher than some of my favorite planar models, such as the 7Hz Diablo or Hidizs MP145 Pro, especially for vocal genres.

download from here: https://forum.powerampapp.com/files/file/102-poweramp-build-1026-uni-betaapk/

Disclaimers: Product was sent to me by BirdDance for review. BirdDance does not see this review before I post it. All opinions are my own.

I was contacted by BirdDance last month and was offered a chance to review the Z3. Prior to them contacting me, I had never heard of the brand and was curious what they had to offer for around the 50 USD price range.

The first thing I noticed is the build quality of the IEMs themselves. They are extremely well built for the price. Full metal shells that have a nice weight to them. They do not feel cheap or poorly built at all.

The design on the faceplate is simple and elegant. Not overdone at all. The ZhuAudio name is pressed into the metal faceplate, which means it will be rubbing off, which is an issue with some IEMs.

The cable is decent for the price. It's a 2-core twisted cable. The outer plastic covering does feel a little on the cheap side. The ear hooks are slightly stiffer than I would like, but it's not bad at all. The hardware on the cable is decent.

As for sound quality, I won't go too much into that here. Will be writing a full review soon with all things related to sound quality in a week or so. But it is a warmer, more vocal forward IEM. Mids are boosted, and the treble energy is taken down a little. In terms of bass, it's more mid-bass focused rather than sub-bass.

Overall for 50 USD, these are a great deal. The build quality of the IEMs, plus 3 sets of eartips, plus foam tips, and an included carrying case make this a great deal for around 50 USD.

If you have any questions about this set, let me know and I will try to answer them.

Thanks for reading.

Just recieved my winter twos today, really excited to try them out because i think at least on surface BQEYZ has unique driver configurations...feel like they are doing their own thing and improving on it....at least this is the pattern im noticing in their products....anyway enough yapping imma spam them for the next couple weeks.

Thanks for sending me your unit for review u/mournfulmonk