Soundpeats Air5 pro+

Specs:

1DD + xMEMS Driver Configuration.

Supported Bluetooth 5.4 Codec: SBC/AAC/LC3/LDAC/aptX/aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless.

Chip: QCC3091

Water Resistance: IPX5

Battery Capacity: 35*2 mAH (Earbuds) 520mAH (Case);

Frequency response range: 20Hz-40kHz.

Price: $130.

Inside the Box:

SoundPEATS Air5 Pro+.

Charging case.

Few pairs of oval ear tips in S and L sizes.

Short charging Type-C cable.

Cute panda stickers.

User manual.

The New Air5 Pro+ has a great ergonomic design, is well-built, and kept me comfortable all day. The -55dB ANC worked impressively in every environment I tried. The microphone was crystal clear and performed flawlessly, even in a busy café, allowing me to hear calls perfectly.

The SoundPEATS Air5 Pro+ earbuds offer impressive sound quality, comfort, and features at an affordable price, making them a top choice for budget-conscious consumers.

Design and Comfort

The Air5 Pro+ features a sleek stem-style design with a matte black finish and gold accents, giving them a premium look. Weighing very little, they are lightweight and comfortable for extended wear. The earbuds come with three sizes of ear tips to ensure a secure fit, which is crucial for effective noise cancellation and overall comfort during use.

Sound impressions:

Equipped with xMEMS drivers, the Air5 Pro+ delivers impressively detailed and dynamic sound quality that rivals more expensive models I’ve tried. I really liked their ability to produce clear audio across various genres, making them a great choice for both music lovers and casual listeners. The earbuds also support LDAC for high-resolution audio, though this feature is disabled when using multi-point connectivity. The low-end hits with speed, authority, and control, with Sub-Bass that’s both deep and detailed, while the Mid Bass remains quick and impactful. The midrange is very clean, while the lower range has a nice amount of body and the upper range brings a bright, energetic vibe, giving both male and female vocals the energy and natural tone they need.

The treble on the Air5 Pro+ is crisp and detailed, with excellent extension and energy. Its open, airy sound signature offers a wide, accurate soundstage that’s perfect for movies and games.

Aune IR300

The Aune IR300 is a standout in-ear monitor, offering flagship-level performance at a budget-friendly price, along with a wide range of tuning options and accessories. Its build quality is excellent, featuring a smooth metal shell that’s more compact than many of its competitors. I found them really comfortable and they offered excellent isolation.

Inside the solid box, you’ll find the IR300, a large pouch, and a thick, high-quality copper cable that’s both durable and modular in design. There are also two types of ear tips in three sizes each, three filter nozzles, plus an open and a closed tube filter. The cable supports both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced connections. I really enjoy the art deco design of the faceplate and the sound of this IEM with the stock filters in place.

Let’s start with the filters: the default Brass one delivers a wide, rounded bass tuning with a good amount of upper treble energy. The sub-bass extends nicely and can dig deep when needed, while the mid-bass is quick and well-balanced. Overall, the bass feels like listening to a quality shelf system with full-range speakers complemented by a small subwoofer. The mids on the IR300 are warm, with a balanced amount of body and thickness—right in between thick and thin, and just perfect to me. The detail and separation are impressive, with both male and female vocals offering excellent placement and emotion. The treble is crisp, airy, and detailed, without being overwhelming to my ears. The soundstage is wide open and airy, offering great imaging with good depth and height.

The Black filter delivers deeper, warmer bass and mids but results in less crisp treble. Soundstage is a bit more subdued but only slightly.

The Silver filter reduces the bass more than the others but adds a sharper, brighter upper end, with a soundstage similar to the original.

Open vs. Closed

The tube only mildly affects the sound, not so much the lows and highs, but more in terms of air and soundstage presence. Personally, I prefer the open design.

In a Nutshell:

The IR300 is a well-crafted IEM that offers just about everything you could want. Its appealing W-shaped tuning works well with many genres, striking a great balance between musicality and technical performance.

Soundpeats H3

The Soundpeats H3 is a hybrid with triple drivers, featuring a 12mm dynamic driver and dual balanced armatures for a rich, IEM-like listening experience. It offers Adaptive Hybrid ANC up to 55dB, blocking 99.8% of noise with six built-in mics and four app-controlled modes—indoor, outdoor, transport, and adaptive—for optimal noise reduction across a 4000Hz range. For calls, its 6-mic setup with Qualcomm CVC 8.0 and an L-shaped acoustic tube boosts vocal clarity, filters wind and ambient noise, and minimizes echo. Battery life reaches 37 hours total, with 7 hours per charge and fast charging that delivers 2 hours of playback in just 10 minutes. The PeatsAudio app lets you tweak EQ for bass, mids, or treble, customize touch controls, and use features like multi-point connection, real-time battery display, and fit tests for a smooth, personalized audio experience. The shape is very familiar to most music lovers as that tried-and-true IEM shape, I found the H3 fit snugly into my ears and provided good isolation and comfort. The ABS+PC resin body is well made, and I like the look of it too!

What’s in the box

SOUNDPEATS H3 HIFI Wireless Earbuds

Cable

User Manual

Protective Case

Eartip Replacements

SOUNDPEATS LINKS:

https://amzn.to/3Y9zRm4 (US)

https://amzn.to/4jWJGh8 (UK)

https://amzn.to/4qI6Om4 (DE)

https://amzn.to/3O7Blv2 (FR)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3cH9wlN

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3ykydK3

SPECIFICATIONS:

Hybrid: 1DD + 2BA per side

(1) 12mm Dynamic Driver
(2) Balanced Armatures
– Chipset: Qualcomm® QCC3091 com Snapdragon Sound™
– Touch Controls
– Bluetooth 5.4
– Profile: HSP/ HFP/ A2DP/ AVRCP
– Codecs: SBC/AAC/LDAC/aptX/aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless
– BT signal range: 10 meters
– Waterproof Rating: IPX5
– ANC and Ambient sound (4 modes)
– PeatsAudio APP – EQ presets & customization
– Low Latency mode (60ms)
– 6 Mics AI ENC for calls
– Dual-device connectivity
– Play time: 7h
– Battery life of earphone: 37h
– Charging time: 1h (earphones) 2h (charging case)
– Earphones battery: 35mAh
– Charging case battery: 400mAh
– Input: 5V-1A
– Charging by USB-C port
– Earphones material: plastic + aluminum
– Case material: plastic
– Case size: 4.2cm [H] × 6.8cm [W] × 2.9cm [D]
– Weight: 6g (one side)(without tips)
– Case weight: 41.4g (without earphones)
– Total weight (box, earphones, etc): 208.6g
– Packaging size 12.7cm [H] x 12.5cm [W] x 5.6cm [D]

Sound wise>

The Bluetooth 5.4 connects flawlessly without any issues, the ANC performs very well, and the microphone ENC works excellently in most situations. The sound has a well-tuned V-shaped profile, with clear vocals and a midrange with a clean detail and separation. The treble offers a nice amount of air and crispness without ever sounding harsh or shouty. The soundstage is wide, accurate enough for gaming, and immersive enough for movies on the go. Overall, it strikes a great balance between technical performance and fun. The bass is deep with a fast roll-off, the sub-bass delivers a nicely controlled rumble, and the mid-bass impact is quick and satisfying.

Fiio DM15 R2R

The FiiO DM15 R2R is a portable CD player featuring Fiio audio R2R DAC technology enjoyable listening experience. It’s built to handle both classic CD / CD-R playback and digital audio, making it a good choice for music lovers looking for retro CD with modern features.

The DM15 R2R features a discrete resistor ladder DAC, renowned for producing a more natural and cleaner sound than traditional delta-sigma DACs. It also features decently powered headphone amplification capabilities, with single-ended outputs delivering up to 310mW at 32 ohms and balanced outputs reaching 1150mW at 32 ohms. This should drive most headphones effectively and does well with in ear monitors as well.

The Fiio is not only a portable CD player but also an all-in-one unit. It’s a USB DAC, Bluetooth transmitter, and CD/CD-R player, it supports Bluetooth aptX and aptX HD as well as FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, and MP3 digital files.

The build is a nice solid design with an all-metal body, but this could also be a minus as well. it comes with a large 4700mAh lithium battery, I’ve personally gotten around 6-7 hours of playback time. I did not like the glass top as it adds to the worries of this portable device. While the build is all metal it still feels fragile for traveling.

Sound-wise, it doesn’t disappoint. The R2R delivers a great mix of enjoyment and detail, capturing the analog-like warmth of older players but with much more clarity compared to my long-owned Aiwa and Sound Design models. You could call it a modern classic, combining all the latest tech with the nostalgic sound of the past—only sharper and more precise.

In a nutshell:

The Fiio DM15 is an excellent all-in-one device for both portable and desktop use, delivering everything you’d expect from a traditional CD player and DAC/amp combo. In my opinion, the buttons and screen are a bit too small, and while the glass top and metal frame feel sturdy, they’re also somewhat delicate. I’d suggest using the available protective case or keeping it in a bag to avoid scratches. As for me I will use it mostly around the house as it’s a great addition to my desk equipment.

Fiio/Jade JT7

Specifications
Item Description
Product name Open‑Back Planar Headphones
Model JT7
Material & Color Black
Driver setup Diameter 95×86 mm planar driver; 3 µm PET silver‑plated aluminum‑alloy voice coil diaphragm
Frequency response 7 Hz–40 kHz
Sensitivity 92 dB/mW @ 1 kHz; 109 dB/Vrms @ 1 kHz
Impedance 18 Ω @ 1 kHz
Earphone connector Dual 3.5 mm (TS)
Cable Dual 3.5 mm (TS) to 3.5 mm single‑ended; Dual 3.5 mm (TS) to 4.4 mm balanced
Accessory Headphones ×1; Cloth storage pouch ×1; 3.5 mm SE cable; 4.4 mm balanced cable; 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapter ×1; Quick start guide ×1
Single unit Weight About 318 g (excl. cable)

The Fiio/ Jade audio JT7 comes in a simple box, inside one finds everything you would need from a velvet pouch to both a balanced and single ended cable. This is the first folding planar I have used making it good for storing away when not in use but due to its open nature I would not recommend traveling with it. The construction is solid with a mixture of plastic and aluminum and a steel reinforced headband. The pads are very comfortable; the pads are wide enough for my ears inside and there is little clamping force on my big head. The pads on the headband are removable, and Velcro holds them to the frame, they are firm in nature providing good support. The earpads are a mix of velour and PU-leather with vent holes for breathing. I think if one adds full leather the Bass would be a little deeper. The cables are a nice thick design and seem robust in construction.

Sound Impressions

The JT7 offers a rich and satisfying lower bass, with its large 95x86mm planar driver delivering deep yet quick response, paired with a well-textured and controlled punch. I found it nicely balanced between quality and quantity. The sub-bass is clearly distinct from the mid-bass, letting the different instruments come through without turning into a muddy mess.

The Mids on the Jade JT7 are warm, with good note weight and a natural texture that I found very enjoyable. Vocals have a nice, forward center placement as they should, and there’s a decent amount of separation between the instruments. While details were good, they are more towards a smooth less sharp presentation.

Treble on the had a very good natural tunning, it was relaxed and not at all sharp and over extended, but it could have used more air and sparkle to fit my needs. This is not to say I couldn’t hear cymbals and instruments properly it lacked the energy I personally think would have made this shine even more.

The soundstage on the JT7 was, as expected, wider than average but more so in width than depth, definitely not huge or as immersive as some open-backs. However, its imaging was well-executed and, in my opinion, more accurate than most budget headphones.

In A Nutshell.

The Fiio JT7 is a great budget option! It has a smooth, warm, and safe tuning that people will either find boring or enjoy for hours—I’m definitely in the latter group. I like them a lot. I think they work well for media and games, though they wouldn’t be my first choice for those. For music, however, I really enjoy them. They’re well-made, comfortable, and a pleasure to use.

KiwiEars Astral

Craftsmanship: The Astral sports a sleek 3D-printed resin shell and comes in two vibrant colors: blue and yellow. Its faceplates are sprinkled with iridescent flakes, giving each pair a unique and eye-catching look.

Comfort: The Kiwiears Astral offered me comfort for long listening sessions even above 4 hours, with a secure fit that stays in place without causing discomfort. They also provide above-average passive noise isolation, making them a great choice for use in noisy environments like the bus and a cafe or restaurant. The shell is smooth and rounded in shape and should fir everyone well.

Accessories: The Kiwiears comes with a pleather case that’s noticeably smaller than its competition and barely fits the IEM and cable. It has a set of tips and replacement filters that is basically it. The Astral disappointed me with its lack of accessories at this price point.

Sound Impressions: The KiwiEars Astral deliver a warm, blissful low-end extension, and despite the deep sub-bass rumble and punchy mid-bass kick, they have a speedy decay and immaculate control. This keeps the midrange clean, free from muddiness or any trace of distortion. It just sounds natural and reminds me of listening to a good shelf system with Sub and full range speakers.

The Midrange on the Astral is well placed with good separation and an almost neutral presentation, while not overly detailed it is highly clear and smooth / detailed with a decent amount of note weight and both male and female are equally presented and have enough energy to be enjoyable.

The treble of the Astral is nicely extended, with no harshness or unevenness. It feels perfectly balanced, offering a gentle brightness and a pleasant touch of air and sparkle. There is a natural crispness and above-average detail, all without any splashiness or sharp peaks.

The soundstage on the Astral is fairly wide but lacks a bit in depth and height. While it’s not holographic or massive, it would still be great for gaming. The imaging is well done and there is enough accuracy in its soundstage to be engaging in my opinion.

In a nutshell:

The KiwiEars Astral is a well-tuned IEM with a pleasant, moderately technical character, making it a highly enjoyable and versatile choice for most listeners.

Ziigaat Horizon

Specifications:

Driver Type: 1DD (10 mm biological diaphragm) + 2BA (Knowles 30262-163) + 2 Planar (custom composite dual planar drivers).

Frequency Response: 20Hz-35kHz.

Sensitivity: 102dB.

Impedance: 24Ω.

THD: 0.55%.

Jack Connector: Interchangeable 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.

Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.

Cable Length: 1.2m.

Starting Price: 329$.

Let us start with the opening of the product, the packaging of all the Ziigaat product in the price range are similar. Good packaging with adequate information on the back. Inside one finds the Horizon then a box with all the accessories including a large case, inside the case smoke and clear tips in 3 different sizes and a set of foam tips, the cable and its two adapters 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The tips are very similar in sound profile, so I’m not sure why they are included and not a set of wide and narrow bore instead. The cable is well made but is meager compared to the others I have used in this price range. For example, both the KiwiEars Astral and Punch Audio Martilo have a much thicker and better-looking cable included with them. It seems every Ziigaat seems to skimp on cable quality at $300+ range as for the case I personally like it because it can fit a small DAP or dongles along with the IEM.

Build wise most of my Ziigatt collection is very similar, medical grade resin with smooth rounded edges the exception to the rule is the newer Ziigaat Odyssey 2 that uses a metal body but still has that familiar look. I found the Horizon to be excellent at isolation with the medium stock clear and smoke tips, I don’t care much for foam. It was comfortable and did not bother me even after a day’s use.

I know looking at the graph the whole ziigaat line look very similar but there are big differences in each one as well as similarities.

The Ziigaat Horizon sound impressions:

Bass wise the Horizon is the quality of the bunch with an impact both deep but also detailed. Akin to a well-placed studio monitor, by far not anemic but at the same time not anywhere Bass head levels. Mild warmth and incredible speed make the Bass both enjoyable and tactile. It is more towards a well-controlled quality Bass experience than say the Kiwiears Astral with its super impactful deep wide subwoofer style warm bass.

The Midrange on the Ziigaat is more of a natural yet transparent tuning, the lowers do not touch the mids at all making them have just enough body in the lower and plenty of air in-between instruments to relish every detail there, vocals are perfectly placed just Infront of the instruments without being right in your face. There are good separation and clarity throughout, and the emotion can be heard from both male and female vocals equally.

The Highs of the Horizon are crisp and airy with a delicate detail that sounds very open and natural without the harshness and uneven spikes of some IEM in this range.

The Soundstage of the Ziigaat Horizon is amazing it is quite wide offering immaculate imaging and fine details not bogged down by busy recordings. There is both a good feeling of depth, Hight and wide-open space that feels immersive and holographic. This is probably the best stage from a ziigaat so far.

In a Nutshell:

The Ziigaat Horizon is a rare IEM offering both competent technicalities and wonderful synergy it is highly enjoyable as long as you know what to expect. No for Bass and Treble focused listeners, yes for everyone interested in detail and enjoyability!

Oneodio StudioMax1

Let us start with the packaging, its big and gives one that premium feeling, inside one finds the Studio Max1 sitting in there waiting for me to use it with enthusiasm, there is also a strange little box thing, it is the Oneodio M1 transmitter giving the Studio Max1 an ultra-low latency performance to its already great Bluetooth and wired capabilities. You will also get a long cable with both a 1/4 and 3.5mm end, a smaller 3.5 to 3.5mm with a full-sized adapter and a USB- C to A cable as well as a pouch that turns into a small backpack.

Oh yes and the simple but cool M1 low latency transmitter.

I put them on and began listening, the pads are super plush, and clamping force is light even on my big head. construction is mostly plastic like their other headphones but solid and no creaking or noises could be heard. There’s metal under the headband, but it’s also nicely padded.

My first listening was with the Bluetooth, and I was blown away.

I’ve been impressed with a few Bluetooth headphones before, but this one really caught me off guard. Honestly, I was expecting a bass-heavy, V-shaped tuning.

The Studio-Max1 delivers a rich, tight, and punchy low end with impressive clarity and impact. Both the sub-bass and mid-bass have great speed and texture, never lingering too long. It’s not often I get such satisfying control and slam.

Bass is forward and also wide, akin to a nice set of floor speakers in a small room.

The midrange has a slightly warm yet balanced, almost neutral presentation, with excellent forward vocals. Both male and female voices sound natural, carrying good body and emotion.

The Treble has a good amount of air and sparkle but is smoother in its tuning with no sharp edges. Still, it sounds great and I can hear each instrument with good clarity and spacing.

The SM1 surprised me with its very well-done technical Bluetooth performance, it is not an open back audiophile headphone but compared to the masses of V-shaped or Harman wireless it sounds more focused even if it’s still very fun and enjoyable. Soundstage is vast and has good depth as well with accurate placement and space.

Wired the SM1 loses a little stage and gained more bass but ultimately there basically the same tuning just with slightly less brightness and air in the presentation making it more Harman with Bass forward.

The list of features includes the M1 it gives the SM1 a slightly less bright sound but very close to the original.

The M1 boast an ultra-low latency (20ms)

The Studio Mx1 features Bluetooth 5.3 for easy pairing with phones, tablets, and PCs. It also comes with 3.5mm and 6.35mm wired cables for use with traditional audio devices. Boasting an impressive 120 hours of playtime in Bluetooth mode and 50–60 hours with the dongle, it’s built for extended listening. It is also certified for Hi-Res Audio and LDAC, with LC3 decoding support for lossless wireless transmission. Experience exceptional wireless listening and Dual-Mic ENC Clear Call – Dual-Mic ENC intelligently separates your voice from background music or crowd noise making it ideal for taking calls near or in crowded places.

In a nutshell: The Oneodio StudioMax 1 is a particularly unusual Wireless/ Wired set of headphones. both useful for DJ work, music enjoyment and games or movies. a good well-rounded device providing great sound with comfort as well.

Ear Acustic Audio STA-Hi-End

Specification:

Driver Configuration: 10mm Ultra Clear Analysis Dual Magnetic DLC Diaphragm + 6mm Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Coil Unit

Sensitivity: 110dB

Impedance: 30 ohms

Frequency Response Range: 10-30,000Hz

Wire Specification: 0.78mm Dual Pin Oxygen-Free Copper and Silver-Plated Wire Mixed Weave, 1.20m

Inside the Box:

1 x EarAcoustic Audio STA Hi-End Series

2 sets of wide and normal bore ear tips with 3 pairs each

2 core cable

Hard shell carrying pouch

User Manual

Ear Acoustic audio is TFZ, a company I once was a big fan of.

Opening the rather large box one finds the very nice-looking IEM and a big round case, included like above is the tips and the cable and documentation.

The shape reminds me of the great KBear Diamond from the past. I found it fit my ears well and provided good isolation and comfort.

Sound wise I find it very similar to the other EAA I tested the STA-K, I think this one offers a little finer tuning and details, but both are fun.

The Bass of the Hi-end is well delivered with a nice impact and minimal distortion. I find both Sub and Mid Bass well implemented and akin to a nice set of full range speaker with a sub. The Bass is nicely textured, and Sub is a small distance from the mId making the MidBass stand out in clarity. Speed is average and there is little bloating to me.

The Midrange of the STA is amazing; it has little to no recession despite this being a bass set. Vocals stick out for being well bodied and rich/ smooth like silk. Both Male and Female vocals are very pleasant and sound quite natural.

The Treble of the STA HE is energetic and has a nice crisp presentation with decent air and openness. Instruments a clearly head and it has good separation.

The Technical side of the IEM is presented above average with a moderately wide soundstage and a little more height than depth. imaging and accuracy in general are good.

In a nutshell: The Ear Acoustic Audio (TFZ) is a well-rounded Bass driven IEM with good performance for cost and it looks fancy too!

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Ziigaat Arcanis

The ZiiGaat Arcanus is a universal IEM priced at $399.00, featuring a hybrid setup with dual 10mm dynamic drivers and five Knowles balanced armature drivers in a 4-way configuration.

Inside the box is a simple yet adequate amount of accessories to get started. You get a case, a non-balanced cable, a set of silicon tips in 3 sizes and one set of foam tips and some replacement filters. The Arcanis is a little older and has the old-style case. The build quality is as expected beautiful looking faceplates with a nice rounded medical grade resin body.

I found the comfort to be perfect and the isolation with the stock tips to be excellent. I personally would have liked a balanced option for a flagship.

Equipment used:

I used the SMSL DS20, ifi Gryphon and Valkyrie and the Tempotec March 3m and V3 blaze as well as the NiceHCK Octave dongle.

Specifications:

Driver Type: Dual dynamic driver with 10mm PET diaphragm, 2BA Knowles 29689, 2BA Knowles 32873, 1BA Knowles 33518.

Sensitivity: 106dB.

Impedance: 12Ω

THD: 0.42%.

Jack connector: 3.5mm SE gold-plated.

Capsule connection type: 2Pin 0.78mm.

Starting price: 399$.

Listening now to the Arcanis now for some time. I can say it is far more refined than the Arcadia and has a deeper bass response than the Crescent.

The dual subwoofers produce a amazingly detailed and unique bass profile that is wide and deep but so mature and balanced. Listeding to bass heavy music the Arcanis rumbles well with both control and authority, on faster metal songs the bass speed and fine tuning are apparent.

The Midrange on the Ziigaat is well done, a mild bleed perfectly acescents the lowers giving warmth to male vocals and instrument to create a nature lush sounding presentation while the uppers are slightly boosted to give energy to female vocals keeping thing balanced and natural. Vocal placement is slightly in front and perfectly clear.

The Treble on the Arcanis is almost neutral in its presentation with a mild lift but no spikes or harshness. The energy is well controlled but has good sparkle and air. Cymbals and other instruments sound detailed with enough crispness to be enjoyed.

The technical side of the Arcanis is immersive and accurate, it has a nice open soundstage with great separation and imaging at an almost reference level.

In a nutshell the Ziigaat Arcanis is a proper flagship offering a balance of great performance with high enjoyability, I personally like this one best out of my Ziigaat collection best.