Marcelo evaluations the Kiwi Ears Halcyon, a novel tribrid MEMS, single 10mm dynamic, and triple balanced armature driver in-ear monitor. It’s at present priced at $259 MSRP with Early Hen Kickstarter costs ranging from $199.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or providers. I thank Linsoul and Kiwi Ears for his or her assist.
Click on right here to learn up on the Kiwi Ears gear beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our scoring tips, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
Kiwi Ears Halcyon Evaluation
Abstract
The Kiwi Ears Halcyon MEMS tribrid driver IEM gives good sound, particularly within the bass and treble, due to the sub-bass enhance and the MEMS driver. I might counsel it to listeners who like good-quality sub-bass, a laid-back higher midrange and decrease treble, with prolonged highs.
Efficiency & Options
8.5
Execs
Pretty detailed sounding.
Above-average soundstage with acceptable imaging.
Granular, textured, highly effective sub-bass.
Cons
Ought to have included medium-bore ear ideas.
I’ve at all times favored the Kiwi Ears IEM tuning as a result of it’s near my most well-liked sound signature, which is near-neutral and clear, just like Kiwi Ears Astral and the Septet.
Upon studying that the Halcyon, which sells for $259 MSRP, is tuned in the same method, which is studio monitor-like impartial tuning with an enhanced sub-bass enhance, I used to be ecstatic.
Not like IEMs with different tuning kinds, which I put aside after the assessment and infrequently take heed to once more, the tuning type just like Kiwi Ears is the one I take heed to afterward.
What’s particular in regards to the Halcyon is that it’s a tribrid design that contains a MEMS driver, a brand new driver know-how with a lighter shifting mass than a typical driver, promising increased decision within the higher treble area.
Will the usage of MEMS drive leads to the next perceived decision? And the way will the Halcyon examine to the likes of the Binary EP321 MEMS, the Tipsy M3, and the Kiwi Ears Etude? Let’s discover out in my full assessment under.
Options
The Halcyon is a tribrid IEM that includes a 10mm composite-diaphragm dynamic driver that handles the sub-bass, two DEK-series customized balanced-armature drivers for the midrange, a customized WBFK-series balanced-armature tweeter for the highs, and a MEMS driver for the ultra-highs.
The MEMS driver is the most recent know-how utilized in IEMs and requires a separate high-voltage amplifier. Being integrated into the Halcyon and pushed with a single amplifier requires the MEMS driver to have a voltage step-up transformer.
I’m unsure whether or not the Kiwi Ears declare that the Halcyon is the world’s first MEMS + 1DD + 3BA tribrid in-ear Displays, as I haven’t verified it.
Nevertheless, I’m one hundred pc sure that it isn’t the primary IEM to make use of a transformer-coupled MEMS driver. That distinction belongs to the Binary EP321 MEMS IEM, which is included on this assessment for comparability.
There’s a piece contained in the CNC-machined aluminum alloy housing Kiwi Ears calls a precision-engineered acoustic cavity. This holds the drivers in place and makes use of resonant rules to manage airflow and decrease standing waves.
The Halcyon has a sensitivity of 109 dB and an impedance of 29Ω, each rankings are common amongst my IEMs.
Moreover, the Halcyon options an efficient pressure-release system that stops stress buildup within the ear canal, which might trigger headache, nausea, and ear ache throughout strolling and working.
Design
The Halcyon contains a mid-sized, light-weight, totally CNC-machined aluminum alloy shell with anodized end. It weighs solely 5.8 grams per shell and has a median nozzle diameter of 6.1 mm.
The anodized end seems silver more often than not, however at instances, relying on the sunshine depth and angle, it has a heat titanium tint, as you possibly can see in a number of the pictures.
The vent gap is cleverly positioned beside the flat 2-pin connectors close to the faceplate, that are tough to seek out as soon as the cable is related, conserving the shells wanting clear. The faceplate is laser printed with a repeating E and Y sample.
Total, the Halcyon has a easy, clear design that appears unassuming but stylish.
Inventory Cable
My assessment pattern got here with a decent-looking, high-quality-feeling, thick brown 2-pin cable with a modular plug system that features 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs.
Nevertheless, I’m scripting this assessment earlier than the Halcyon is formally launched, and primarily based on its early product web page, there must be an possibility for a removable USB-C DSP cable that may be EQ-customized, presumably with an app.
Consolation & Isolation
Weight and measurement are essential for consolation, and Halcyon’s light-weight, medium-size, ergonomic form and comfortable ear ideas make it very simple to put on.
The Halcyon blends seamlessly with my anatomy, making it simple to neglect I’m carrying it as I get misplaced within the music.
Halcyon’s sound isolation is common, which, to me, is an effective factor, as I nonetheless wish to hear the ambient sounds when not enjoying music throughout strolling workouts.
Packaging & Equipment
The packaging is easy but very first rate. After I eliminated the black sleeve with the Halcyon picture, a black field with the Kiwi Ears emblem appeared on the prime. As soon as the highest cowl was eliminated, I used to be greeted by the Halcyon IEM pair on show.
The package deal measures 131 x 112 x 65mm and accommodates the Halcyon IEM pair, a modular cable with 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm plugs, a person guide, six pairs of ear ideas, and three additional pairs of tuning filter units.
Kudos to Kiwi Ears for together with the three additional pairs of tuning filter units, which will increase the longevity of the Halcyon, as these tuning filters may get broken.
Sound Impressions
I did my commonplace 24-hour burn-in routine to make sure the dynamic and MEMS drivers totally settled. I seen a refined enchancment in bass depth, tightness, and granularity after the burn-in.
For the sources, I used my iBasso DC-Elite and MUSE HiFi M6 Double DAC amplifiers, with my Android cellphone and the FiiO M15S DAP, utilizing both YouTube Music, UAPP, or PowerAmp music participant Apps.
I used the inventory cable with the balanced 4.4 mm plug. Except in any other case famous. I used the narrow-bore ideas for his or her extra thrilling, partaking sound in comparison with the flatter, blander sound of the wide-bore ideas.
Measurements
My measurement of the Halycon reveals a superb channel match, which may be very spectacular, provided that it consists of 5 drivers per channel.
The bass enhance happens solely under 200 Hz; this could end in a clear higher bass. The pinna achieve has a ten dB bump close to 3 kHz, which is an effective elevation that balances vocal presence with out higher midrange shoutiness.
The 8 kHz peak is audible in precise listening; nonetheless, it isn’t as peaky because it seems on the graph, as a result of the measuring software provides its personal peak within the 8 kHz area.
Abstract
The Halcyon sounds impartial with a bass enhance; it types a bassy, gentle L-shaped sound signature, the place the sub-bass is outwardly boosted whereas the higher bass to higher treble stay near-neutral and comparatively flat.
I discover the bass high quality very excessive; it has a deep, highly effective presence, with elasticity, articulation, element, and granularity. The decrease bass by no means interferes with the higher bass and decrease midrange, making for clear bass traits.
Midrange is flat, impartial, and coloration-free; it has an correct word weight, which is neither too gentle nor too heavy. The higher midrange is barely laid-back in its response, which contributes to its correct note-weight presentation.
I discover the decrease treble sounds barely darkish; nonetheless, the higher treble is barely elevated, prolonged, ethereal, and detailed.
Coloration
I wouldn’t name the Halcyon a neutral-sounding IEM, because the enhance within the sub-bass is apparent upon first hear. Its presence is at all times perceived in each music I take heed to, together with 80s lean-sounding pop music.
There may be additionally extra power within the higher treble, which I presume corresponds to the peaks at 8 and 14 kHz primarily based on my measurement.
Nevertheless, these deviations from absolute neutrality don’t negatively shade the sound, akin to nasal, shouty, or distorted coloration; they’re nothing like that. They add pleasure and engagement to the musical expertise with out detracting from the unique sound or musical intention.
Soundstage
Despite the fact that the Halcyon doesn’t have the most important stage or the grandest presentation, its staging is nice and definitely above common.
There may be good width, top, and depth, and it by no means sounds claustrophobic. I discover the staging efficiency to be impartial and correct. The Halcyon doesn’t add an excessive amount of synthetic area within the soundstage.
The Halcyon has a barely laid-back higher midrange, leading to not-too-defined, barely subtle imaging, particularly in the primary vocals.
Nonetheless, the imaging efficiency has a suitable definition. There’s a honest quantity of side-to-side area to separate the instrument, and a gentle front-to-back layering.
Not the cleanest background decay I’ve heard, however it’s pretty clear and definitely above common. It doesn’t abruptly minimize off the instrument decay, which might make the sound uninteresting and dry; there’s good maintain within the instrument decay in addition to within the vocals.
I have to add that the Halcyon, with the narrow-bore ear ideas, appears to sacrifice a little bit of imaging efficiency for a extra spacious sound staging.
Medium Bore Ear Ideas
The Halcyon included two varieties of ear ideas: narrow-bore and wide-bore. The wide-bore ideas sound mid-forward with a bland higher treble and have a smaller stage and ill-defined imaging.
As compared, the narrow-bore ear ideas have an thrilling higher treble and a bigger stage; the higher midrange is recessed, leading to so-so imaging.
I used to be puzzled why Kiwi Ears didn’t embody a medium-bore ear tip, or ear ideas with an in-between bore measurement between the 2 included ear ideas.
I attempted medium-bore ideas, particularly the Acoustune AET07 ear ideas, and they’re the perfect of each narrow- and wide-bore ear ideas. The higher midrange is extra ahead, whereas the higher treble stays energetic and thrilling with out an excessive amount of enhance.
This additionally leads to a wider soundstage and improved imaging efficiency.
Nevertheless, there’s a noticeable discount within the sub-bass as a result of rise within the higher midrange, therefore making the general sound extra impartial.
Dynamics
Whatever the ear ideas used, the Halcyon sounds partaking and really dynamic, particularly in the way it presents the bass. And the midrange and treble have good power, stopping them from sounding boring.
Halcyon can take numerous energy and go very loud with out distorting or getting into compression. My listening to can be the one to surrender method earlier than the Halcyon would distort.
Click on on web page 2 under for my beneficial pairings and chosen comparisons.
