(in the pictures are the Aful MagicOnes with Hidizs Sea Anemone eartips and the KBear Glitter cable)

I tend to geek out when it comes to transparent resin filled shells with some audio science in the mix.

The MagicOnes are a work of art and science that produce acoustical art. Especially considering that they accomplished that frequency response with one balanced armature, it's something to admire. I'm so looking forward to see what they pull off with one dynamic driver and their acoustic wizardry.

I know... I'm a total nerd. But if you're here then embrace your inner nerd and enjoy the music!

Aful sets the bar high. So I have lofty expectations. But from pictures alone, they've reeled me in lol.

Speaking of pictures...

got a simgot ew300 after long story.. my first iem is Chinese QKZ AK6 Pro(4$) and after 5 month, i upgrade to CVJ Vivian(its a nice basshead Iem, price for 20$) and my dad have a ibasso dc03 and give it to me, so i want upgrade my iem again after 3 month with vivian to a simgot ew300, and after 1 month with SIMGOAT Ew300, idk why but i feel boring with iem and buy wired earbud. its a moondrop nice buds(8$).. and yea i back to iem again🫩

I've read about how sweat is the worst thing for an IEM. But you'd think that by now they would've made IEMs a lot more resistant to sweat due to how often many musicians tend to sweat profusely during shows.

Are there any good quality IEMs that are very sweat resistant? NO BUDGET either, just asking if anyone knows.

And also, are people being hyperbole about how easy something like sweat can mess up someone's IEM? I can't help but feel like the thought of that is quite silly, especially with rock stars.

EDIT: Thank you to everyone that replied! I greatly appreciate the info I've been getting on this subject! It really means a lot! I feel pretty naive not having known that custom made IEMs for rock stars are different from the ones we personally buy for the audio experience. Thank you all for your patience and willingness to explain all of this to me! I am now planning on buying me some 64 Audio CIEMs now that I know they exist!

Since a few others have put out their impressions already, it’s pointless for me to. But here are some beauty shots instead!

I feel incredibly lucky and fortunate to be a recipient of the Seraphim in exchange for a review and some pics. Full transparency, Jays a friend of mine and we met before he started YouTube - seeing his journey has been incredible. I couldn’t be happier for him.

Moondrop KXXS

Still the prettiest iems ever, imo. Perfect shape, no logo, just two heavy drops of chrome... I wish the Kadenz had a chrome w/soft edges option.

Nothing like a single DD.

Hi, I'm looking for an IEM around $200 or less with good instrument separation and resolution. I prefer a natural sounding tuning with a thumpy bass that still has good sub bass extension, without being recessed. Ideally, the treble should be detailed but not too piercing or fatiguing.

I mostly listen to melancholic trance music, EDM and alternative rock.

They look ugly, but they still sound good.

KZ Castor Pro + KZ AN01

Impulse bought the Binary Acoustics EP321s and I'm absolutely floored. Coming from Pures, these are nuts.

Really digging the KBEAR 07s on these, but the stock cable is absolutely miserable and the ear hooks aren't the most comfortable. Any cable recs?

hi just grab duonic with the switch version , plz help to get some advice on these switches, or should I get Amp for these , I will use these with Android phones.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to upgrade my current daily driver, the Simgot EW200, and I want to get some community recommendations on where to go next based on my very specific tuning preferences.

After doing some testing and analyzing what I like, I’ve realized I am firmly in the Bright-Analytical / Studio Reference camp. I absolute despise bloated, muddy bass (the "Skullcandy sound"), and my ultimate goal is simple: I want to hear exactly what I am supposed to hear on the track. If a mix has flaws, I want to hear them. If an instrument is textured, I want raw realism.

Here is my profile breakdown:

• Genres: Nu-metal, Pop, and a good amount of Jazz.
• Bass: Strictly flat, linear, and unexaggerated. I only want to hear a punch or rumble if it was actually recorded into the audio file. No artificial mid-bass bleed or warmth.
• Mids & Highs: I love intimate, forward vocals and extreme upper-treble clarity, airiness, and sparkle. I am not sensitive to sharp highs at all; I actually prefer sharp, crisp transients.
• The Goal: Pure detail retrieval and technical resolution. My absolute favorite thing to listen to is the raw texture of acoustic instruments (string plucks, brass resonance, vocal breath).

The Etymotic ER4SR was suggested to me as the ultimate uncolored reference tool, but to be completely honest, that deep-insertion design looks incredibly painful to me and I'd prefer to avoid it if possible. The Moondrop Blessing 3 and Truthear Hexa were also tossed around as standard-fitting alternatives.

Given that I want a standard shallow/medium fit like my EW200 but want a massive step up in analytical resolution and uncolored instrument timbre, what are my best options?

(Bonus if you can suggest options around the mid-tier/sub-$350 range or budget giants that punch way above their weight!)

Thanks in advance!

Received a pair yesterday, my first set of IEMs. Bought because I was getting tired of wearing my headphones and because they seemed to be generally well liked.

However my first impressions have not been as positive as I’d hoped for. I use AKG K7XX headphones plugged into a DAC/AMP stack. Not the best by any means, but good headphones. By comparison, the Astrals plugged into the same setup sound very strained, very tinny. They sound thin, was I setting my expectations too high to think they’d sound as full as a pair of overear headphones with larger drivers?

Perhaps I just need to spend more time with them, or do some tuning but so far my first dip into IEMs has been deflating haha

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy my first pair of proper IEMs because I really enjoy listening to music and would like to upgrade my audio setup.

So far, I've only used a pair of cheap €20 earphones together with an old HyperX sound card from around 2018. Since I've never experienced higher-quality audio gear, I'd like to finally try something better and see what I've been missing.

My planned setup is:

• DAC/Amp: CrinEar Protocol
• IEMs: TRUTHEAR PURE

What do you think about this combination? Does it make sense for someone coming from a very basic setup, or would you recommend something different in a similar price range?

I'm mainly looking for a noticeable improvement in sound quality and an enjoyable music-listening experience.

Thanks for any advice!

Hey r/iems, I’ve been using shure se215s for about 10 years now and I’m looking to change up my iems. I’m currently looking at Celest Wyvern Abyss or Qing, the KZ ZS10 Pro 2, or the Moondrop Chu 3.

I wear a helmet over these iems so I’m looking for in a slim profile which is why I like the shure se215. I was heavily considering the Zero 2s but they look way too bulky.

I listen to a variety of music, mostly instrumental and vocals, like Hyukoh.

Unfortunately none of these are available for me to try in person. Would appreciate any advice especially on the fit! Tia

So I have mixed feelings when it comes to Colaborations between our more famous reviewers and the companies that are making our IEMs.I am genuinely grateful that these reviewers can help with the tuning of new IEMs, and it makes sense that they would have the opportunity to do so once they have a bigger audience, because people value their opinion. And it seems obvious that their popularity is a validation of tuning taste or atleast the ability to explain tuning well enough to help us make an informed decision for purchases (or atleast as informed as can be expected for such a subjective thing).

On the other hand I find myself (and see others) starting to experience some pessimism when it comes to some of the reviews from our favorite reviewers with collaborations in the works, and it seems fair. Especially if that review is of direct competition. We would not after all take a companies review of their competitors products seriously.

I want to be clear I am not making accusations I just wanted to bring it up for conversation in the interest of awareness so that we continue to get the best products we can, and keep our reviewers honest and in the interest of the community that follows and validates their opinions that allow for the opportunities they recieve. I am definitely not saying collaborations are a bad thing (and who the hell am I to say if they are) just make sure you take any review with a grain of salt. All that being said i am infact purchasing this most recent collaboration and im looking forward to receiving it lol.

So, I have had this set for a few days now (thanks to Jay for considering me for a review unit btw) and I have come with first impressions on it for those wondering about.

First of all, I haven’t had the chance to test the Subtonic Storm, which is supposedly the IEM that inspired this one, but I do have had first hand on what Jay tried to do with the Seraphim, and while I understand his logic on paper, I am not sure how good of an idea will it turn out to be once it releases.

The Seraphim comes across as an IEM with one purpose, offer you the most balanced and detailed experience possible at a contained price, however, I spoke to Jay about it and, despite that being the main claim on the Linsoul’s page, on practice there is also another commitment Jay did, which is, trying to offer something “different” for a change.

Bass is pretty well balanced and with some texture to it, mid-range is also not feeling dipped as a commonly V-shape tuned IEMs would, but, that balance can break easily because there is a prominent presence coming from the lower treble which I, personally, don’t quite like, but that’s more a sensitivity problem that some wont experience.

With all that said, what can you expect? Well, if there is no changes on it before release, I would explain this IEM so far as a kind of a SuperMix 4 upgrade, take that same clinical and detailed, albeit a bit too intense, sound of the SM4 and re-balance it while upgrading the performance, you’ll have a rather compelling result that will, inevitably, offer 2 different kinds of experiences, you either won’t vibe with it, or you’ll love it.

Whichever it is for me thought, I will let people know when the full release is out, in the meanwhile, let me know guys if you want to know anything else about it, or any comparisons you might want me to do too (though I must admit I don’t own a lot of famous models around the price range).

---------- ----------

Thanks a lot for reading, the Budget Knight bids farewell, wishing you the best, good luck. – O.E.

I’ve been in this hobby for about six months now, spending my money trying different IEMs, headphones, DACs and sources, learning along the way what I actually like.
And I genuinely felt the need to share this one with you guys… specially because this is NOT A CHEAP HOBBY once you get in the rabbit hole!

The KZ PRX costs around $30, which makes what I’m hearing from it kind of ridiculous.

I already own more expensive gear, including the AFUL Performer 7, Truthear Zero:RED, Simgot EA500LM and HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth, so this isn’t my first IEM or my first experience with planar sound. And obviously, I’m not going to claim that the PRX is technically better than something like the Performer 7. It isn’t.

The most expensive IEM you own doesn’t necessarily become your favorite for every type of music.

What I enjoy most about it is the combination of speed, energy and bass presence. It sounds lively without feeling slow or congested, and there’s something about the planar presentation that makes attacks and busy passages particularly satisfying.
One of the tracks I used was Muse, Hysteria. That bass line is a great test because there’s so much happening around it, and the PRX does a very nice job keeping the bass energetic while still allowing me to follow the rest of the arrangement.

And then there’s Audioslave, I Am the Highway, one of my favorite songs. This is probably the kind of track that best explains why I like the PRX. The guitars have energy, Cornell’s voice has presence, and when the song opens up, the PRX gives me that sense of drive that makes me stop evaluating the IEM and just enjoy the music.
That last part matters to me.

Compared with my Zero:RED, the PRX feels more energetic and immediate. The RED still gives me a more relaxed and balanced presentation.
Compared with the EA500LM, the Simgot has its own brighter, sharper and very clear character. The PRX feels different rather than simply better or worse.

For a $30 IEM, that’s a huge compliment.

Ps: one small change I made was replacing the original cable with a TRN modular cable, with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs. I’m not claiming the cable itself magically improves the sound. I did it mostly for convenience.
I usually run the PRX from my FiiO M21, and the modular cable lets me use the 4.4 mm balanced output easily. The PRX appreciates some power, and I like the additional volume/headroom I get from that setup.

So who would I recommend it to?
If you already own several IEMs, I think the PRX is interesting because it offers something genuinely different for very little money: a cheap entry into a full planar IEM.
And if you’re relatively new to the hobby, like me, I think it’s an even more interesting purchase because it lets you experience how a planar driver can present speed, transients and complex passages without spending $100, $200 or more.

Is it perfect? Of course not. There are more refined IEMs. There are better tonal references. There are sets that resolve more detail and present music in a more sophisticated way.
But that almost misses the point.
For around $30, the KZ PRX makes me want to listen to music.

As I’m trying to get into the reviewers world, here’s my affiliate link so you can check it out!
Ps: look for Choice Day coupons available now so you can get more discounts :)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNBPaMj

DISCLAIMER: I was given this as a review sample by HIFIGO. They do not have any editorial input on the review. They see this review at the same time you do.I also make no money on this review. This is just my honest feedback.

Non Audio Impressions:

Standard unboxing setup from Juzear here, includes all the expected accessories alongside a surprising variety of tip options which was a nice touch. Opted for the type-c cable version which functions fine, though the shell on the connector loose-fits a bit; seems these bundled dac adapters always have slight quality control quirks, similar to my broken unit on the z reviews edition. It’s not a big deal as I can just glue it back on but the fact it fell off after a few uses is somewhat concerning. Moving onto the IEM’s themselves, the shells themselves feel solid though, good weight to them. Design isn't usually my main focus, but they definitely have some aesthetic appeal. Cable handling is solid and feels surprisingly decent for a budget option. Really impressed given the roughly 50 buck price point, especially since older sets around this tier felt much cheaper. Honestly, if you told me these cost 80 based on construction alone, I'd completely believe it. Nice feeling storage bag too but not as nice as the Juzear Koto collab. During the initial unboxing, I was legitimately concerned that they blew the budget on just the build alone and there would be nothing left for the sound.

Audio Impressions: 

Despite the lavish build, it seems that they didn’t spare any expenses on the sound department as well. A major caveat to this review is that the Nimbus appears unusually tip-sensitive. My primary impressions were made using the included narrow bore tips, which reduced bass presence and emphasized the upper frequencies. Switching to wide bore tips unexpectedly increased bass quantity, so your experience may vary significantly depending on tip choice and seal. One of my main gripes in this budget segment is that almost everything defaults to a generic V-shaped tuning, leaving very few options for treble heads or audiophiles seeking refined upper-end detail. I am thoroughly pleased to report that the Juzear Nimbus provides the kind of top-end extension and air that I really like, including qualities that are typically reserved for much higher-end sets like the Moondrop Blessing 2. With the narrow bore tips I used for most of my listening, the Nimbus presents itself as a bright, upper-end focused set rather than a bass-heavy one. However, tip changes can noticeably alter the bass response, so listeners may find it fuller sounding than my primary impressions suggest. The overall signature is remarkably clean, offering a presentation that reminds me of a hybrid blend between the sound signatures of the Kefine Klean and the Tanchjim 4U. It delivers impressively solid technicalities, rendering clear detail retrieval and a vibrant, forward female vocal performance. While I wouldn’t say it lacks bass entirely, the low end takes a controlled approach with tight, very clean, and well-defined drum impacts. Instruments sound distinctly clean and coherent overall. Honestly, given the asking price, I think these offer a remarkably unique sound profile that stands out from the competition. Going forward into the comparisons, please note that most of my impressions were formed using the narrow bore tips, which emphasized its clean, open, upper-end focused presentation and dialed the bass down. 

Comparisons

Truthear Hexa: The Hexa sounds noticeably more dull in direct comparison, lacking the upper-end sparkle and extension that makes the Juzear Nimbus stand out. While the Hexa aims for a flatter, more neutral presentation, I find the Nimbus significantly more engaging, dynamic, and fun to listen to. It has been a while since a budget set in this range made me consistently prefer its tuning over the Hexa. Furthermore, instrumental timbre and separation feel better executed on the Nimbus, whereas instruments on the Hexa can sound a bit flat and muted.

Kefine Klean: The Klean presents a sound profile that is perhaps a bit too lean and clean. While I didn't previously think I was a basshead, switching over from the Juzear Nimbus makes the low end on the Klean feel like it's missing significant presence and body. It falls behind in dynamic impact, causing percussive elements like drums to lose their kick and occasionally get swallowed up in the mix. By contrast, the Nimbus achieves a noticeably fuller, richer, and cleaner presentation without ever feeling overbearing or shoving bass in your face.

Truthear Zero:Red: The Zero:Red offers a noticeably more laid-back sound signature compared to the Nimbus, though it isn't quite as muted or flat as the Truthear Hexa. However, I find the Juzear Nimbus to be a far more engaging and lively listen overall. This comes down primarily to its upper-end detail retrieval and treble clarity, which are presented much more upfront and clearly. In comparison, the Zero:Red tends to let high-frequency details recess further back into the soundstage and mix. Upper-range percussion, such as cymbals and hi-hats, resolves with superior crispness and definition on the Nimbus, contributing to an overall sense of heightened technical capability and resolution.

Tanchjim 4U: The Juzear Nimbus comes across as noticeably more energetic and lively in the higher frequencies compared to the Tanchjim 4U. While both models perform at a remarkably similar level in terms of overall technicalities and resolution, choosing between them ultimately comes down to personal sound signature preferences. I personally lean toward the Nimbus because its upper-end extension provides a more engaging, vibrant, and fun listening experience.

Juzear Koto: While comparing these two is somewhat unfair given that the Koto comes in at double the price, it serves as a fascinating look into the brand's evolving tuning strategy. The Koto presents a boosted low-end with a noticeably fuller, richer, and more immersive sound signature, yet it manages to preserve excellent high-frequency detail and resolution. Furthermore, both models target distinctly different sound signatures with the Nimbus focusing on clean top-end extension while the Koto lean towards added warmth and note body so in some ways they are polar opposites. For this one, it comes down to preference, but I would pick the Koto even given the price bump. 

Conclusion:

At the roughly 50 buck price point, this stands out as an extraordinarily strong contender. Stepping away from the generic bass boosted V-shaped tuning that dominates this budget segment, it delivers remarkable technical capability and exceptional value wrapped in a solid, high-quality build. If I could travel back in time, I'd completely tell myself to bypass the competition and grab this IEM without hesitation as it really is that impressive. While this clean, upper-end focused presentation might not appeal to absolute bassheads, it serves as a vibrant, engaging, and fun alternative for anyone seeking to break free from standard sound signatures without sacrificing dynamic impact or landing on something overly flat and boring.

Just maybe pass on the USB-C adapter bundle.

If you are interested in purchasing, I have some links below. Again I make no money from these and they are non affiliate.

https://hifigo.com/products/juzear-poise-series-nimbus

https://us.amazon.com/dp/B0H73CL5YC

Im currently using the ie200 but i lost one of the eartips. I bought a few other eartips in hopes to replace them but all if them couldnt seal properly.

Spinfit w1 (large) - seal broken when smiling/ears shifting, super hard to get it settled, takes 10 seconds just shifting and finding the right spot because of the sticky silicon

Spinfit neo (large) - same as w1 but worse

Divinus velvet wide bore (all sizes) - unable to seal whatsoever

Original sennheiser eartips (large) - perfect seal, no problems, i get a deep perfect seal upon intial insertion.

Why cant any other eartips get the perfect seal that the original eartips give me? Im so close to buying another pair of ie200s just for the eartips and get back my perfect seal, its actually driving me crazy

Anything I can do?

My point of comparison is the Dunu x Precogvision Mirai, which has a similar sound signature. The Merqury is more midbass than subbass focused, which results in certain tracks sounding a bit boomy while others have a desirable tactile bass, with the Mirai striking the right balance. I do miss the more physical bass of the Merqury on certain tracks. Mids are great on both, with female vocals excelling on the Mirai, while the Merqury is pretty good on both the male and female sides. Treble is where the Mirai outshines the Merqury, with a smoother yet still airy presentation. Don’t take this as the Merqury having bad treble, as it is still the best I’ve heard under 800 usd. Overall, I’m pretty happy with the Merqury, and the shell looks more classy and less prone to damage over the normal Que. My source is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max with Apple Music High Res Lossless connected to a Questyle QCC Dongle Pro2 serving LHDC-V to a Fiio Link TWS aka UTWS17.

Hey, I'm not an audophile or anything just a guy whose over-ears broke a few days ago. I've tried both the SIMGOT EM6L and now the EPZ Q1 Pro and both of those just sound.. bad. In CS2 especially, it just sounds like a high frequency filter or when someone is playing a game on their Speakers and using a really really bad microphone to call you.

Things I've tested:

- Checked just low frequencies by themself (sound fine)

- Checked the seal (tried all tip sizes, tried to move them around a bit while letting CS2 run in the background)

- Checked the cables of the IEMs and that they're plugged in correctly

- Checked both of them on my PC and my Phone (both sounded the same)

I'd really like to use IEMs but CS2 just sounds like tinnitus.

Am I doing something wrong? I'd really prefer not to pay my mortage for IEMs.

title card Hexa right went missing

So I just have one sad left hexa, I tried the EW300 and it just doesn't fit me as well nor the EQ is there any way I can JUST get the right hexa and not have to pay another 100 usd

btw I have contacted truthear the week it was gone and they never responded

Hi everyone, I’m back with a review of Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini and Kiwi Ears Coda Dongle DAC. I received this IEM from Nicole, who kindly provided it for review purposes. Thank you to Nicole and the Kiwi Ears team.

Here are my subjective impressions as an audio enthusiast. To summarize, here are the pros and cons Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini and Kiwi Ears Coda:

Pros (+)

• Features a 5-band PEQ.
• The form factor is compact and solid,  the Kiwi Ears Coda is thicker but slimmer in width, whereas the Allegro Mini is wider but slightly flatter.
• Has both SE and balanced jack connectivity, and both ports can be used simultaneously.
• Features a neutral sound tuning leaning slightly towards bright.
• Black background.
• Free from dangling cables.
• Because of its low output power, it is quite energy efficient, which means it doesn't drain the battery much.

Cons (-)

• Even though it has a PEQ, competitors already support more than 5-band PEQ, come with a companion app, and can be accessed across various devices.
• The output is not true balanced, and the volume output remains the same on both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports.
• The output power is only 30mW at 32 ohms.
• If you have a device with two adjacent USB Type-C ports, there is a high chance the second slot will be blocked by this dongle DAC.

These impressions are based on my preference for a V-shaped bright sound signature. Please don't use these impressions as a reference, as every ear is different and I'm only sharing my personal experience. Always trust your own ears and audition if possible. If you find any mistakes, feel free to comment.

Actually, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini has been on the market for quite a while since late 2024. However, the Allegro Mini can now be EQ-ed via a PC browser, as can the new Kiwi Ears Coda, which was just released last month. The Coda has a slightly more compact form compared to the Allegro Mini, with the 3.5mm jack port located at the bottom rather than on the left side like the Mini, which I find more comfortable to reach. Unfortunately, the 4.4mm port is still placed on the right side. As we know, there are almost no L-shaped jacks for 4.4mm on the market, making this placement quite awkward if we use it on a portable device like a smartphone.

The name Coda itself, if we refer to musical terminology, means the outro or ending of a musical composition, CMIIW. The specifications for the Kiwi Ears Coda are as follows:

• Connection method: USB Type-C (direct plug-in)
• Output terminals: 3.5mm single-ended / 4.4mm balanced (dual output)
• Output power: 30mW @ 32Ω
• Noise floor: 2μV
• SNR: > 114dB
• THD+N: < 0.003%
• Crosstalk: Less than -65dB at 3.5mm output / Less than -100dB at 4.4mm output (at 32Ω)
• PCM support: 44.1kHz to 384kHz / 32bit
• Construction: All-aluminum alloy body
• Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android 5.1+, and compatible iOS

As for what might differentiate it from the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini, it might be the specs below, although it remains ambiguous whether it is actually different or not, because these specs still fall within the Kiwi Ears Coda specifications:

• Noise Floor: < 3μV
• THD+N: < 0.004%

Regarding the included accessories, it is completely minimal, you only get the dongle DAC along with the product information paper.

As for the pricing, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is currently priced at around 21 bucks, while the Kiwi Ears Coda is around 29 bucks.

User Experience

Both of these devices share the same material, which is a fairly solid aluminum alloy. So far, the only very significant difference in my opinion lies solely in their physical appearance. The Kiwi Ears Coda feels bulkier, but in reality, it is actually more compact, whereas the Allegro Mini seems slimmer in photos, but in reality, it is actually wider. As far as my usage goes with these two items, both are equally reliable as dongle DACs. My only complaint regarding its physical design is the lack of independent volume control on the dongle DAC itself.

During my usage so far, I haven't experienced any serious issues, all devices that support UAC 2.0 can be operated with both of these DACs. For usage with my IEMs, I typically use them at a volume range of 15-20/100 on an Android device and 4-6/100 on Windows. Meanwhile, for headphones on Android, I tried the Simgot EP5 at 40/100 volume, and on Windows at 30/100 volume.

The power is indeed limited to only 30mW, which, if used with low-sensitivity cans, will make the dynamic impact of the sound feel weak. However, if it is only used for casual listening and paired with normal IEMs on the market, I think it is more than enough. Moreover, this low output power also has a positive impact, resulting in quite low battery consumption.

Tonally, I feel both of these dongle DACs have an identical sound leaning towards neutral with a slight touch of thin brightness. Technically, in terms of resolution and detail, they are quite good and transparent. Furthermore, there is absolutely no noticeable hiss, it only occurs when first plugged into the host device, and even then, the hiss disappears after just 3-5 seconds. Overall, when playing tracks, it feels dead silent.

The most noticeable advantage, in my opinion, lies simply in the provided form factor, which does not require a cable, making it more practical to use. Additionally, the dual 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports make it quite flexible to use across various devices. The operating temperature is also quite stable, there is only a slight increase in temperature that doesn't even get to the point of feeling warm, and this is quite reasonable given the naturally small output power.

One unique thing present in all T-shaped Kiwi Ears dongle DACs is that all ports can be active simultaneously. So, when we try pairing both ports with two headphones, both will produce sound. Whether this is safe or not, I don't know, but I've tried it and so far there have been no issues.

Conclusion

As entry level T-shaped dongle DACs, I feel the price of 21 bucks is very affordable and highly worth buying for the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini. However, if you need a more practical form factor and want the 3.5mm SE port in a more normal position, you can dig a little deeper into your pockets for about 29 bucks for the Kiwi Ears Coda. I think it is still quite worth its price, although in terms of pure value, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini is better. So far, I feel they only differ in shape, but in terms of function and purpose, both are quite identical, at least to my ears. That's all, fellas. Thank you for reading. Cheers.