Let’s start with the build quality, SMSL is known for making a great product with a solid build the DS20 is no exception.
The all-metal build with the top being se through reminds me of much more expensive units I have used, it’s hard to believe this is under $200. Inside you will find the warranty card, manual and the two cables. The units controls and IO are all on the front, easily accessed but I would have liked a separation between the input and output and controls. Just in case you have a thick USB or Audio cable it might be tight to plug in both.
The DS20 has both a 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone output that deliver a powerful 500mW per channel output thrust, more than adequate enough to drive planar IEMs and Headphones with relative ease. SMSL DS20 is a portable powerhouse that has an industrial design I find appealing. The sound quality of the DS20 is simple very good resolution with excellent details and an almost pure neutral tuning, there is a mild warmth in the well represented lowers and vocals and mids are superbly represented. Soundstage and treble are open and natural with sharp yet perfect details. This device works well for music and games with the accurate and highly detailed ability.
Using 4 pieces of Cirrus Logic’s latest audio decoder chip CS43131!
PLFC fully balanced ear amplifier circuit design.
New third-generation XMOS XU-316, PCM support up to 32bit/768kHz, DSD support up toDSD256.
Support MQA full decoding, 8 x unfolding
Two modes of USBl.1 and USB2.0 are for selection, USB1.1 is convenient for users to connect to game consoles such as PS5 or Switch.
Special designed clock processing circuitry for audio, greatly reducing clock jitter.
Built-in specially designed low-noise power supply.
Uses a large number of audio-specific audiophile-grade resistors and capacitors.
Japan Audio Society (JAS) Hi-Res certification.
Built-in high-capacity and high-efficiency Li-ion battery
In a nutshell: The DS20 is a all-in-one portable solution that could fit well as a desktop unit in most circumstances it is well tuned and well made, has good power and looks fantastic in my opinion.
● 9 Sound Styles, Triple Tuning from its proprietary pneumatic tuning filters and different types of ear tips included.
● CNC-Machined Aluminum Alloy Shells.
● Detachable 0.78mm 2-Pin cable.
● Wide Frequency Range
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: HIDIZS MK12 TURRIS
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 111dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 45kHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm, 4.4mm
DRIVER UNIT: 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER
Opening the box one finds a bunch of different size tips a leatherette pouch tuning nozzles a nicely made but thinner cable and the large shelled IEM. I found it comfortable for my ears, but the shells are full sized and thick with shorter nozzles and a unique shape. The design is interesting and may not be for all, I think it looks good.
Sound:
I found the stock sound to be well balanced with excellent tone.
The Lower registers are exemplary with a well detailed and punchy. Here Sub-Bass has a decent rumble but does take a backseat to the well textured and prominent Mid-Bass with its speedy and powerful presentation. This can be increased a little or the opposite with the included nozzles.
The Midrange is an impressive blend of smooth rich tone and amazing placement and separation with both male and female vocals sounding great but male having just a little more naturalness with the warm lush tunning. Female vocals could have used a little more air but I’m just nitpicking.
The Treble of the MK12 is smooth, while its more towards a safe and non-bothersome tunning it still retains enough sparkle and air to make it enjoyable as well as a natural sounding tone.
Technically the MK12 is sound and functionally a good performer with details above average and a nice spacious soundstage that has a wide open almost theater like presentation. It has impressive amount of accuracy, and I found the imaging spot on.
In a nutshell the MK12 is a solid performer in its range will a good amount of accessories and a wonderful smooth and balanced tuning that still has details and technical chops to boot.
3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S/M/L); another pair (M) is default.
Documentation
Brochure / Greetings
Mascot card
The remastered is much different from the V-shaped original this new one has a more traditional shape that I found fit well and isolation was on par with its competitors. The Wyvern comes in a well adorned box with mascot card inside, I would have liked the cost to be drawn from here and a simple pouch or case provided would have serviced well.
The Lower end of the Wyvern has been improved for longer listening and better overall texture and details can be heard.
The Bass has a cleaner and less thumpy approach but is still very good in quality even if it’s less in power. This is not to say it doesn’t have an impact in fact is great when called upon just not bass head territory like the original. Midrange is mild and has a forward placement, its less as thick as its predecessor but is far from being boring and vocals sound better in my opinion. There is a nice balance in the midrange with enough body and richness. The treble is mildly subdued with a smooth and safe presentation. the soundstage is wide and slightly less in its depth but would work well for gaming casually.
In a nutshell the Wyvern Black Remastered is more of a different and side grade IEM than an upgrade to the original. Geared towards someone looking for a gaming IEM with an enjoyable non harsh tunning for music.
The boxing experience was fantastic, with numerous accessories included, even compared to my much more expensive Moondrop Variations. The packaging appears premium, and the organization of items in smaller boxes led me to believe this was an expensive set. Well, done, Simgot!
The inclusion of four nozzles allows for significant tuning to your preference, and the standard nozzle bore enables the use of nozzles other sets and manufacturers.
The ET142 is built solid and best many other sets of higher cost with ease. It has a very thick and beautiful cable made from OFC and silver plated OFC lits. It is also modular making it compatible with all my devises and I really appreciate that feature.
The 142 also comes with 3 styles of tips unfortunately none are foam for those that use them.
You also get 4 tuning nozzles 2 are longer and there are replacement filters and rings also included adding to the longevity of this set. We round off the acessories with a nice case similar to the one with the EA1000.
As for isolation it was perfect with the medium nozzles. Fit for me was tight but comfortable, I fear smaller ears might have some difficulty because these are larger than average.
Equipment used:
Fossi audio SK02 and SK01, ifi Gryphon, TempoTec V6, Periodic audio Neon BT, Creative Soundblaster G8 and Fiio KA13
High quality MP3, DSD , FLAC + ALAC, and some streaming in LDAC.
My sound impressions after burn-in.
The Simgot ET142 was a joy to listen to right out of the box. I heard it needed burn-in, so even though I don’t believe in such things, I did it for the sake of others.
We start with the lower end of the 142, the Bass was super controlled with excellent details and texture but is far from Bass head territory. The Sub-Bass carries the tones with that typical “PLANAR” Bass. The Bass line is neat and clean with good transient and depth but could use a little more emphasis, nothing that can’t be resolved with Xbass if I really was in the need for it. That said, the Mid Bass is slightly behind the Sub but it’s not lacking in texture quality and speed. There is enough Bass here for any type of music, double Bass drums sound fantastic. The overall bass analysis reveals a well-defined punch, adequate depth, speed, and quality befitting of a planar IEM.
The Midrange and vocals are greatly affected by the nozzles, ranging from a brighter and thinner response to a rich and meaty one. The ability to customize the mids are highly appreciated as it’s like having a variety of IEM in one package.
Mids are focused and clear while with one nozzle there is a warmer signature this is not a set for the warm rich Harman found in other sets yet there is enough to be pleasing to my ears. Planar timbre is present but is not impeding my enjoyability as I like most planar sets. Vocals have good wight with the red ringed short nozzle but are always energetic and the titanium nozzle was overall enjoyable while I didn’t care for the gold one as I thought it was too much. This is subjective and everyone hears differently. Midrange in general are clear and detailed with good energy and air, separation is far above average, and I would classify the 142 as a mid-centered IEM.
Treble can present as very airy and a nice upper limit with fine details and ample energy. Treble enthusiasts may prefer gold or titanium depending on their preference. I found the Titanium nozzle to be more my tastes when it came to upper tonality. Treble in general is open and spacious with clarity befitting of a flagship IEM, I could find no fault with how everything sounded listening to my eclectic collection of music.
Soundstage: Perfectly suited for the 142 the soundstage is wide and has a decent depth even if lesser than the width. Details are perfectly placed and not affected by congestion like some other IEM. Compared to the MoonDrop Variations I am testing out it is more detailed but far less holographic. I think both would work for gaming but perhaps the Better Bass and holographic stage would make the Variations a little better.
In My opinion the Simgot ET142 is a versatile IEM with a very quality lower end an excellent Midrange performance and upper treble of superb clarity, with class leading technical performance and while the 142 needs to be tuned towards your preference it should be decent for most people “after burn in” I can understand some of the points of negative but with the right , nozzle, filter, and tips these can be amazing!
The AGASound AGA ONE is a nicely built IEM with a 3D printed body and a metal faceplate. It looks sleek and modern. I found them very comfortable, and they provided above average isolation. The cable was actualy good as stock cables go, I found it both good looking and sturdy. the tips included were okay and provided a good fit for me.
Inside the box you will find the following
Aga OneIEM
Silver-Plated OFC Cable
Three Pairs of Wide Bore Ear Tips [S, M, L]
Three Pairs of Narrow Bore Ear Tips [S, M, L]
Three Pairs of Silicone Sponge Ear Tips [S, M, L]
Specifications:
Brand: Agasound
Model: AGA ONE
Source: China
Colour: Silver
Sensitivity: 126dB
Impedance: 19 Ω 10% @1kHz
Frequency Response: 20-20kHz
Plug: 3.5 mm gold-plated plug
Driver: Balanced dual magnetic DD
Cable: High-purity silver-plated OFC
Lets get into the sound:
The AGA One Has very good quality Bass while not exactly Bass head it still has a nice Sub-Bass presence and enough depth and width to be quite enjoyable on recordings that are more Bass oriented. Mid-Bass is no slouch it too is well refined with good control and speed.
The Mids are very interesting with the vocals being centered and not pushed forward, they are far from the typical Vshaped recession but instruments in general are slightly in front of them. The Mids have good clarity and note weight is also good with above average separation and are more towards a smooth rich Midrange with decent technicals.
The treble is well controlled offering enough energy and air without overextending or harshness. The soundstage is fairly wide with less depth and height, but good imaging and it doesn’t fall apart on bad recordings.
In a nutshell:
The AGA One is a under $40 IEM with good build quality and a pleasant smooth Harman tuning for a comfortable and relaxed listening session anywhere. I like the look and find it very enjoyable as an everyday use IEM.
I found the KA13 to be a well-built Dongle with a nice modern look and cool lighting on the window. It sounds very neutral and has good details and a healthy amount of power 550mW, this means it can power full sized headphones as well as sensitive IEM with a low noise floor. As a Dongle it very much improves the sound quality and volume but it should be noted this is not the most dynamic sounding dongle. Note wight is thinner and highs are on the sharper side as it is very detailed and analytical depending on the IEM or headphones used this may be less.
I tested out the Meze 99 classic, HifiMan Sundara the MX Ray MF1 headphones and the Dunu DK3001bd, ROSESELSA Star City pro 5 and Westone Mach70 IEM
The Hidizs ST02 Nebula is a Single Dynamic driver IEM with a built in USB-C DSP Dac cable, this allows you to grab it and go without the need for other equipment. the cable can be switched so you can use it with your favorite dongle or portable player.
Inside the box is the IEM, a small pouch and the cable, a USB-C-to-A adapter and tips. The ST02 is lightweight and comfortable it is made of mostly plastic and has coin like faceplates. The cable is sturdy enough, but some may not like the nylon construction as it can tangle and kink.
Sound wise the DSP is tuned to give a bright Harman response with mild Sub-Bass impact and more focus on the Mid-Bass is typical Harman tuning with Sub-Bass rolling off fast and only a mild rumble when listening to boosted music. Mid-Bass hits fast and is very well controlled with nice texture.
Mids are mildly recessed with vocals being a little thicker than I was expecting, still everything sound as it should be, and nothing is out of sorts.
Treble is well extended with a nice natural tone, it is not the most detailed but has a nice smooth presentation that most will like.
Soundstage is wise with decent depth but nothing holographic are large, these are decently accurate but I wouldn’t use them for gaming.
In a nutshell: The ST02 Nebula is good considering the cost and has potential, the selling point here is it’s good to travel with for convenience and it has a enjoyable signature.
The unboxing experience of the Dunu DK3001BD is top-notch and among the most memorable I’ve had. It comes with everything shown above. The modular Cable is super sturdy, the case so spacious and a nice assortment of tips are also included.
Specs Model: DK 3001 BD (BrainDance)
Cavity Material: Aerospace-Grade Aluminum Alloy
Net Weight: Approx. 8.1 g (per side)
Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
Impedance: 26Ω
122dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
Sensitivity: 108dB/mW(@1kHz) 122dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
THD: <0.5% @ 1 kHz
Dynamic Driver: Flexible Surround Bio-Diaphragm Dynamic Driver for Low and Sub-Bass Frequencies x 1
Balanced Armature Drivers: Custom Midrange Balanced Armatures x 2
Custom High-Frequency Balanced Armatures x 2
Planar Drivers: Custom Micro Planar For Ultra-High Frequencies x 4
The lower frequencies of the Brain Dance are expansive yet lean towards a balanced and controlled character. The Sub-Bass is responsive and capable of a robust rumble on enhanced recordings when necessary, while the Mid Bass is more subdued and precise, yielding prominence to the Sub-Bass. It’s unexpectedly effective across various music genres. Bass enthusiasts may not favor it, but its long-term listenability appealed to me. The lower frequencies are best described as well-textured and intricately detailed.
The midrange of the DK3001BD possesses a pleasant, natural lightness, neither too thick nor too thin, providing just the right amount of body to feel appropriate. The vocals are placed forward, and while they lack the thick and rich character I’m accustomed to, they still sound correct and appropriate to me, with a natural timbre and placement. Great separation and clarity round off these natural and balanced Mids.
The treble extends well, offering good energy and an airy, detailed presentation. The highs have a sparkle and openness without crossing into the harsh, brighter peaks that some IEMs exhibit.
The soundstage of the DK3001BD is superb, offering a well-rounded experience with ample height and depth that complements its wide and open staging. The placement and accuracy are precise, ensuring no issues even with busy recordings.
The Capsule 3 Pro is well-crafted, boasting impressive internals and features. Similar to the Pro Plus, it supports LDAC, which I appreciate greatly as it enhances my streaming experience.
It comes in various colorways and i picked the see through as it was nostalgic looking.
In terms of sound, the Capsule 3 Pro closely resembles the Pro Plus in its lower-end capabilities, yet offers a more balanced and robust midrange, as well as an even treble, thanks to its single 12mm dynamic driver. The ANC functions flawlessly; I used it on the bus and could completely immerse myself in my personal music world. The call quality was clear and flawless with no cut outs or lag. I discovered that the C3 Pro offers a nicely balanced bass with good texture and punch, a rich midrange with a decent body, and only a slight recession in vocals on certain recordings. The treble sounded crisp and clear with natural details. The soundstage was precise and wide, providing enough space for gaming.
In a nutshell
The Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro is yet another impressive offering from the company, delivering high quality and features at a reasonable price. It boasts a pleasant sound profile that doesn’t cause fatigue, along with excellent active noise cancellation and call quality.
A simple box, a straightforward design, and starline tips paired with a non-detachable cable characterize this lower-budget IEM. KZ Dawn presents two premium cable choices: silver-plated and OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper), each tailored for distinct audiophile preferences. The silver-plated cable, crafted from a 0.06mm high-purity oxygen-free copper wire core, delivers enhanced conductivity for a cleaner, quicker signal transfer, which amplifies the clarity and luminosity of each note. On the other hand, the OFC cable provides a harmonious, balanced audio performance, delving into the music’s core with a deeper, more resonant texture. I found its lightweight and a see through looks to feel cheap and uninspired but comfortable.
The sound impressions offer a pleasantly warm, V-shaped IEM experience with a solid bass punch and warm mids that, while slightly recessed, deliver a rich and full-bodied presentation. The treble response is less relaxed, providing a nice sparkle and breathability.
This makes a great additional or backup set if you enjoy an IEM with a fun, warm sound profile.
Jubilant Ear Reviews 