Candy Melts in your Mouth & Not In Your Ears
EQUIPMENT
Topping a50s Headphone Amplifier
Xduoo MT-602 Hybrid Tube Headphone Amplifier (Sylvania 5654 Tubes)
SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK2 DAC
TempoTec E44 , Apogee Groove & VE OdysseyHD Dongles
iFi Hip-Dac
Eartips: Final Audio E (2020 Version), Stock Wide Bore
Cable: Stock Cable & NiceHck Silver LitzPS 4.4mm Balanced
Sources: Flac Files From my Personal Collection / Apple Music
SPECS
10.2mm, double-magnetic circuits & dual cavities
One-piece German Makrolon Skin-friendly Resin Housing, Aluminum Alloy Gold-plated Sound Tube
Frequency Response20Hz-40Khz
Sensitivity: 112dB
Impedance: 20 ohms
2-pin 4 core high purity silver-coated OFC cables with 1.2m in length
NOTES
The Hidizs Mermaid MS1 Rainbow is the entry level IEM in the HIdizs lineup that includes the MS2 Mermaid of which I gave a very positive review and the MS4. The cute resin shell houses a single 10.2mm dynamic driver. As with other Hidizs products I've seen, the retail packaging is well thought out and pleasing to look at. The MS1 is easy to drive and should sound it's best on most devices. It does scale with better sources but most competent sources should match well. The MS1 sounds best at low to moderately high volumes. Sound quality suffers at higher volume levels. They come in different colours and really reminded me of candy when I first saw them. The MS1 Rainbow sports a V-Shaped tuning with heightened mid-bass and what I found was relaxed treble, even if sometimes I wished for more.
BUILD, QUALITY & FIT
Build quality is very good. The earphones themselves are very light and interesting looking with a multi-coloured scheme that catches the eye. Included accessories are of equal quality as well with the stock cable being of satisfying build and definitely not a throw away. Fit was good with the MS1 being on the large side of medium sized with a large protruding nozzle. For the testing I used the stock wide bore tips which gave a good seal and comfort.
:SOUND:
BASS:
Bass goes deep and is definitely elevated, mid-Bass more so than sub-bass. Bass is meaty and full not being shy. The MS1 is not necessarily a bassheads set though, but isn't weak in this department by any means. What is lacks is absolute definition, texture and control.
The low end does add warmth to the overall signature compounded by the midrange and treble falling behind the bass in output. The MS1 obviously is not tuned for "Critical" listening but retains a fun factor that can still be pleasing with many genres of music with the mid-bass punch it projects and the deep bass rumble when called for.
The bass line in "Circumstance" by Wayman Tisdale was definitely present but with out the texture detail heard in some other earphones such as the Reecho SG01 or Heart-Mirror. The track driving bass line in "Protection" by Massive Attack was clear but not as defined as it could be. Still the MS1's low end did not usually get in the way of the vocals.
MIDS
The midrange is recessed and is reasonably clear and open. It has a warm presentation with a thickness to the notes that adds an element of focus in particular for male vocals, for better or worse imparting at times on overly thick representation. Female vocals are also affected by this "Richness" and while sound good are less affected than their male counterparts.
Cleo Soul's incredible vocals on "When I'm In Your Arms" were engaging but lacked a little air. Ronny Jordan's "Vaston Place 12am" was missing some of that air and sparkle that make this track such a standout. The MS1 plays very safe in the midrange but at the expense of a lack of detail retrieval and air.
Detail retrieval is average and speed and texture as well. Layer separation is also average hampered by the emphasized low end and a midrange and treble that takes a back seat to the bass. That being said the MS1 still comes off as smooth and not harsh at all if not very exciting. Timbre is good but not class leading. The MS1 though is comfortable for long listening sessions as it will not offend.
Treble
The MS1 has a relaxed treble that again is safe but still enjoyable. Treble heads will not be happy with this tuning. The treble is unassuming in its control but can sound blunted with respect to the trailing edge of transients which can fall off too rapidly. This will rob certain tracks of air and sufficient sparkle.
This is put more into focus as the treble on the MS1, as mentioned above, does fall behind the bass with respect to energy. Detail retrieval is also average. For those whom are drawn to this tuning the MS1 will be welcomed being inoffensive in the high frequencies.
IMAGING & SOUNDSTAGE
Imaging is average but balanced all around with height, width or depth not overshadowing each other. Not expansive but stable and with acceptable placement within the soundstage.
- Reecho SG01
With respect to bass, the Reecho SG01 enjoys a victory on all the important metrics. Speed, texture and control. Both can go deep but the SG01 just has a more satisfying bass presentation with superior definition.
Midrange again leans towards the SG01. The Reecho is just noticeably more open and unrestrained with better detail retrieval.
Treble is a clear win for the Reecho SG01 who's treble is just heads and shoulders above the vast majority of earphones in it's price range, the MS1 costing $20CAD more.
- Hidizs Mermaid MS2
The MS2 is a different animal completely than the MS1. They share almost no sonic similarities. The MS2 has less bass output but is no slouch in that department and boasts a much faster, better textured and more defined low end. It also has a much better balanced mid-bass.
Midrange follows the same trend with the MS2 having an openness and level of detail that the MS1 does not approach.
Treble is all about the MS2 whose treble definition, detail, sparkle and air are only hinted at in the MS1. These two are very clearly tuned for vastly different tastes.
CONCLUSION
I am less than enthusiastic about the Hidizs Mermaid MS1 Rainbow not due to it being a bad product, but one that is obviously far off of my tuning preferences. The MS1 is a well packaged and quality product but lacks the sonic refinement and verve of its better and in some cases cheaper competitors. If a safe sounding and treble polite earphone is what you are after the MS1 may satisfy. IMHO, the Reecho SG01 just performs better all around and you can always spend the extra few coins and go for the fantastic Hidizs MS2.
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