Penon 10th Anniversary
Sound Profile
unabashedly V shaped
Overview
The 10th is a very interesting set that has taken me some time to fully wrap my brain around. While most sets I have listened to fall into a certain category where I could say “this is like set X set but worse/better” the 10th is hard to put in a box. It’s V shaped, sure, but it’s not like many other V shaped IEMs I have heard in the past. The treble is extended and slightly elevated but not to the point of being bright or sibilant. The Bass is noticeably boosted but it’s boosted across the entire bass range as opposed to focusing on a sub over mid glide like most other V shaped sets. The thing that really tripped me out the first time I listened to is that how the replay adds a slight ethereal quality to tracks while also being energetic and very musical. It’s somehow a relaxing and fun listen at the same time which is probably what’s causing my brain to get confused on what the essence of this set is.
Having said that, the main question to ask is “how does it sound?” and in this regard I would say it sounds really good! Its not a set for purists who want as close to an authentic replay as possible or for someone who is dipping their toes into the higher prices sets as I think they will be unhappy with how niche and tip dependent this set is. On top of that technicalities are mediocre for its price point. This is a set for people who want to experience something new and refreshing, who have locked in their EDC and all rounder sets and are looking for something to mix it up. Bass is big, punchy and adds body to notes without being face melting and the upper mids are tuned to cut through all the bass and have clarity even through the most turbulent bass lines. The treble gives just enough extension and energy up top to make things sound lively without trying to steal the whole show. Whether this set is worth it will wholly depend on you. $500 is a lot of money for most people (even if it doesn’t seem like it in our hobby) and in my opinion you can find better all around sets for much cheaper (Looking at you Starsea). However, if you are an enthusiast who has a modest collection and is looking to add a unique set it would be hard to pass this one up.
Details
Note: I found the Tri Clarion tips to work best for this set which really tightens up the bass and adds a bit of air and treble so my take is going to be skewed a bit compared to using other, less impactful tips.
Technicalities
Technicalities is nothing to write home about on this set. Stage is relatively average for an IEM however I would expect more for the price. The stage is pretty wide however there is a lack of depth and the soundstage is not very high leading to not much space to work with. It’s definitely more “2D” than “3D”. The cramped stage doesn’t help this sets imaging capabilities. It’s definitely got separation and you can hear left, center, right blobs pretty distinctly but outside of that there isn’t much nuance. Notes are sharp and concise which helps with clarity. I don’t get any roundness across the entire spectrum which is more important to me than imaging.
Treble
Treble is emphasized enough to counteract any veil in the vocals that the big bass shelf would have caused. The treble is emphasized enough to cut through the mix and stops at that. The lack of zing in percussive instruments is usually a big indicator that treble is missing and I don’t get that here. Where I do notice the lack of treble is in vocals on certain mixes, especially with vocals that are in the lower registers. There is a lack of top end that causes lower vocals to come off as dull or blunt, which hurts the enjoyment of the song for me.
Midrange
Vocals present in line with the rest of the track, maybe a tad forward but definitely not in your face. lower vocals have an extra husk to them that would put them firmly in the “colored replay” category. Vocals in the upper registers have good body and still manage to keep a bit of sparkle to avoid sounding dull. Steel string guitars snap really well with good body and zing as do wood blocks. Maracas have good detail and come off very texture which is not always the case with bassy sets.
Mid bass
Bass is the focus of this set and unlike most other bass focused sets, the mid bass is the prominent player here. There is a lot of physicality and texture in the bass without blowing out the whole mix. Mid bass has a good balance of tightness, speed and decay so hits linger long enough to feel their full impact but not too long for it to seem loose or flabby. If I had to describe the mid bass in one word it would be palpable.
Sub bass
While not basshead levels, the sub bass is elevated enough to get substantial hits on certain EDM and rap tracks when called upon. It does a good job taking a backseat to the mid bass and plays a supporting role in the replay. I would describe the sub bass as clean and thumpy with good speed which is how I like my sub bass. No boomy bass here, just clean, thumpy hits. Bass speed is very good, it doesn’t linger and take over everything like other bassy sets such as the EST50.
Genres
Below are my rankings for how this set plays each genre. These are based on my general enjoyment of the replay for some songs that fall in each category and is therefore very subjective and may not represent the category as a whole. If you have any questions as to what songs I listened to for each category feel free to ask!
Pop - 7
Rap - 7
Hip Hop - 8
R&B - 8
Latin - 7
House/EDM - 8
Country - 7