Look what showed up today! Acoustics Bgvp Astrum sooooo sweet!
Canuck Audioholics Anonymous (CAA)
4 Likes
Iâm not an unboxing guy and normally donât care about presentation or packaging. I would prefer brands focus on transducers and cables.
But that ⊠that is INSANE from BGVP. If they sound as good as the units and the packaging look, this will be a VERY special set.
5 Likes
IBasso Jr. KLEE
Single DD IEM $80.00 usd.
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Type: 10mm Dual Magnetic Circuit Dynamic Driver
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Diaphragm: Lithium-Magnesium Alloy Dome
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Frequency Response: 20Hz - 40kHz
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Impedance: 22Ω
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Sensitivity: 112dB/ms (@1kHz)
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Shell: Stainless steel
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Cable: Detachable, 0.78mm 2-Pin connector, Litz structure, oxygen-free copper silver-plated
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Plugs: Interchangeable 3.5mm (Single-Ended) and 4.4mm (Balanced) plugs
Preamble:
Sincere thanks go out to Paul at iBasso for providing the iBasso Jr. Klee review sample to the Canuck Audioholics.
Tone Deaf Monk
Kingnubian
KrusyâolBastid
I received only the ear pieces. So canât speak to the retail packaging, or unboxing experience.
Being I didnât receive the stock cable, I will be using an aftermarket SPC cable in place of the stock offering during my listening sessions and the evaluation.
Pros and Cons:
Beautifully sculpted stainless steel shells are reasonably light weight, vented, and ergonomically, fit my larger ears well. I would consider them medium sized.
Brightly polished metal shells are typically fingerprint and micro scratch magnets. I canât speak to the silver version, but the blue coloured shells mask fingerprints and micro scratches well.
I did not receive the stock, modular cable, but am told it is a nice offering.
I will pair the Klee with a KBear ST16 silver plated copper cable, terminated 4.4 mm.
Klee are not difficult to drive, FiiO JM21 on mid gain works very well.
Klee does scale nicely on a capable source.
Even on the iBasso DX340 with stock amp 15 card, I bumped the amp up to mid gain to benefit from some added body and note weight in the bass.
Not source device fussy.
Klee will reflect the tuning nuances of various sources, but on the three I used, Klee sounded excellent on all.
FiiO JM21, iBasso DX340/amp 15, and AK HC4 dongle on iPhone 16/Qobuz.
Balanced sound signature with a polite mids lift.
The dexterity of the Lithium-Magnesium Alloy Dome Dynamic Driver allows it to be very adept at individualizing each frequency range.
One could easily mistake the Klee as a hybrid configuration if you were unaware of the true configuration.
Equipment:
iBasso Jr. Klee IEM, aged 100 plus hours.
FiiO Jade Audio JM21 DAP, mid gain, 4.4mm balanced out.
KBear ST16 silver plated silver cable terminated 4.4mm.
Sedna Xelastec wide bore ear tips.
Sound:
Bass has a mild mid bass over sub bass rise.
On sub bass focused tracks, Klee presents a boomy but solid sub bass rumble, it decays fairly quickly and doesnât over ride the head stage.
On most tracks bass has good presence but tends to present low and ârear stageâ behind/beneath the mids.
The bass tuning works very well with the overall tuning of this iem.
If I have one very minor nit pick with the Klee, more dynamic separation in the bass would be welcome.
Mids and vocals are elevated, not quite as prominent as the FR graph would suggest, but certainly a focal point in the tuning.
Very good macro detail here with a clear vocal presence.
Tonality across the board is natural and accurate.
Highs start to roll of early. Despite the early roll off there is some micro detail presence, and, well somewhat subtle, decent air and sparkle.
Klee is not intended to be highly detailed and crisp, but whatâs here works very well with the tuning of the other frequencies.
Head stage is intimate and very much inside the head.
Width is between the ears, heath top to bottom pulls low, but rolled off highs limit air and sparkle from reaching high in the skull. Front to rear depth is average.
The head stage does fill the head space nicely, and creates an up close and personal âsmall venueâ vibe.
Summary:
Iâm impressed by the agility of this single DD. All frequencies have their individuality, but also blend easily resulting in a mostly balanced and musical presentation.
The Klee doesnât hammer home bass notes, or dazzle with exceptional detail retrieval.
It just draws you in, and keeps you there with a natural, easy listening musical experience.
Easy to drive, but scales nicely on more capable source devices.
The sound evaluation was done on the FiiO JM21 budget DAP. It is a good warmish pairing, but for personal listening sessions I did prefer the iBasso DX340 with amp 15. It showcased the agile abilities of the excellent DD to an even greater degree.
At $80.00 usd, with stainless steel ear pieces, an outstanding dynamic driver, and a very nice modular cable (so Iâm told). The value here is obvious.
Klee wonât please everyone. Audio enthusiasts are a far too diverse group for âone size fits allâ.
But Klee is an incredible all rounder that is sure to please many. Myself included.
Excellent under $100 offering iBasso 
Thank you for the opportunity to hear it.
My music sources:
Qobuz, and, FLAC and DSD files stored on the SD cards of my daps.
My music genre are primarily Rock, Blues, Jazz, Symphonic, Country, Rap, R&B, Pop, Electronic.
Enjoy your music.
5 Likes
I tried these after all the recommendation they got. First surprise was the packaging. Headphone just wrapped in bubble foil, thatâs it. No Box no nothing. Second negative surprise immediately when putting them on. The cups donât swivel at all and no review I saw before or after I bought them mention this. Back in the days everyone complained about this with the Hifiman headband which at least rotated a little bit Pad depth is also not the deepest and baffle has a thick foam layer so the ear touches it all time. Canât see why everyone praises the comfort, they are lightweight but thatâs it.
I got the fabric cable. Looks sturdy but its not very flexible and microphonic. Soundwise they are really good for their price but the comfort is not worth it.
2 Likes
A great sounding IEM that unfortunately has flown under the radar. Thanks for the great review.
2 Likes
SIVGA QUE UTG
Single Dynamic Driver $89-98.00 usd
Innovative 10mm Ultra Thin Flat Glass Panel diaphragm with flexible PU surround Dynamic Driver.
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Impedance: 32Ω.
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Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz.
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Sensitivity: 103±3dB.
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Modular, 2 pin, silver plated copper cable with 3.5 and 4.4mm terminations.
Preamble:
Thanks go out Sivga for providing the Sivga Que UTG IEM for review by the Canuck Audioholics.
I did receive the Que UTG full retail package. Packaging is standard fare, but the contents rate above the asking price.
Zinc alloy shells with green sandalwood face plates house a unique Ultra Thin Glass diaphragm single dynamic driver.
Nice Silver Plated Copper modular cable with 3.5 and 4.4mm terminations. Fittings are metal encased with a metal chin toggle.
6 pair of silicone tips, and, a functional carry case.
Pros and Cons:
Thank you Sivga for stepping up and offering a reprieve from the over abundance of Harmon tuned clones.
Zinc Alloy metal shells are vented, have a quality feel about them, and are capped with sandalwood faceplates.
I would rate these on the smaller side of medium sized, they fit comfortably in my larger ears.
Short nozzle length requires that I achieve a seal and anchor in the outer portion of my ear canal. Due to my large canal size, I am limited to XL/XXL ear tip size, which limits my tip selection.
Fit is of course personal and subjective.
This is a me problem, and possibly for others who struggle with short nozzles.
Stock silver plated copper modular cable is a nice offering.
Nice to see some unique new driver tech being offered. The 10mm Ultra Thin Flat Panel Glass diaphragm dynamic driver is intriguing to say the least.
Que UTG is easy enough to drive to adequate listening levels on lower power daps, or a phone and basic dongle. ButâŠ.
I found the bass a bit weak, and the mids thin, on lower powered source devices.
More capable source devices are highly recommended.
Bumping up to a more powerful source device brought the bass up a lot, and made the difference between unlistenable and most enjoyable, for me at least.
Powered adequately Que UTG delivers more bass than the FR graph indicates.
Clear and detailed mids, and very good sparkle and air in the high end.
Source Device Journey:
Initially I paired the Que UTG with my iPhone and the AK HC4 dongle. Bass quality was good, but presence was lacking. Mids and highs were crisp clear and highly detailed.
Overall the sound was too thin, lean, and fatiguing after short listening sessions.
Next I tried the warmer FiiO JM21 budget DAP.
The added warmth was welcome, but the bass was still lacking.
This pairing was less fatiguing, but failed to engage.
By coincidence the KAEI Designs TAP1 Pro amp showed up, on loan to me from a friend and fellow Canuck Audioholic.
Tap 1 pro with tube mode off, and paired with Hiby RS6 R2R DAP as transport was a revelation.
Que UTG sounded incredible when fed enough power to effectively drive the DD and wake up the bass.
Hiby R8ii gave similar results and listening experience.
The downside; $1k usd or more tied up in source device(s) to get the most out of a $90 IEM.
Of the devices I own, the most cost effective solution turned out to be the iFi Hip DAC 3.
With power match turned on, the hip DAC 3, paired to my iPhone, powered the Que UTG very nicely.
I didnât find X bass necessary, but it did enhance certain tracks.
The sound evaluation is done using the Hip DAC 3 paired with iPhone 16, streaming Qobuz
Equipment:
Sivga Que UTG IEM, aged 100+ hours.
IFi Hip DAC 3 dongle paired with iPhone 16. Power match ON, X Bass OFF.
Stock, modular silver plated copper cable, terminated 4.4 mm.
Sedna Xelastec wide bore ear tips.
Sound:
When powered adequately, Que UTG has very high quality bass with ample texture and dynamics.
Sub bass has a strong presence when called on, pulling low with a nice deep rumble. Decay is reasonably quick keeping sub bass in its place, but enough carry over to add warmth and body to the mids.
Mid bass is tight with good impact. On tracks other than sub bass heavy tracks, mid has a lift over sub bass.
Mids are elevated, crisp and clear, with excellent macro details, upper mids follow suit, and add a nice splash of micro detail retrieval.
Vocals are also elevated and somewhat forward, well defined, clear and detailed.
Male and female vocals are mostly natural and accurate, however, on some tracks, especially certain female vocals, they can be a touch bright and energetic. Exception, not the rule.
The highs are satisfyingly bright, clear and detailed with good sparkle and air.
But never harsh or sibilant.
Head stage is open and spacious allowing for excellent instrument separation and individuality.
Left to right width is very good, just outside the ears.
Height is good top to bottom, especially on tracks with both bass that pulls low, and a good high end presence.
Front to rear depth is average. Head filling, not much for holographic imaging.
Left/right Imaging, and, layering are precise and accurate.
Summary:
I am very interested to see where flat panel glass drivers evolve. Sivga has certainly whet my appetite with the Que UTG.
With adequate and capable power applied (I know I sound like a broken record) the Que UTG performs with incredible accuracy, and musicality.
I almost passed over reviewing this IEM because my initial impression was that it was lean and thin sounding.
Had I not persevered and rolled through additional source devices until I found a few warmer and adequate sources, I would have missed out on a very capable and enjoyable IEM.
At just under $100 usd, for those who can pair it with a good source device it is very much worthy of consideration.
** NOTE: Power requirement isnât extreme, the JM21 outputs 245mW @ 32 ohms, the Hip DAC 3 outputs 400mW @ 32 ohms. Just that little bit extra wakes it up brings out its best.
My music sources:
Qobuz, and, FLAC and DSD files stored on the SD cards of my daps.
My music genre are primarily Rock, Blues, Jazz, Symphonic, Country, Rap, R&B, Pop, Electronic.
Enjoy your music.
6 Likes
Holy moly that 5kâŠ
5 Likes
Great review as per usual my friend.
2 Likes
Ten charâŠ.
3 Likes
They donât sound like they graph to me. Driven with Amp13 in DX340 there is much more bass and the 5k peak isnât an irritant and I usually am quite sensitive there. My set had an issue with the right earâŠthe driver would break up in the upper treble region. A nasty distortion that wasnât always present. I suspect there was an issue with the surround to glass connection. I quite liked it the otherwise. Very incisive without shout or glare. Still not for everyone.
3 Likes
A wonderful BassFi Collaboration DUNU X Koto ITO $199
A HiFiGo creation.
-Bassy but doesnât miss out on the rest.
- Great Price Value
- Nice Cable and Case
-Natural Sounding mids
3 Likes
The lush musical BGVP The $699 Astrum is the Lush musical BGVP you have been looking forward toâŠor not?
Find it MusicTeck
2 Likes
AFUL Dawn X
Polite, Doesnât Push Boundaries.
14 Driver Quadbrid IEM. $1300.00 usd
1DD+8BA+4EST+1BC
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Six way electronic crossover plus six way physical crossover network.
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Impedance: 15Ω±13%.
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Sensitivity: 101dB@1kHz.
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Frequency Response Range: 5Hz~35kHz.
Preamble:
Shout out to Canuck Audioholics Review Group.
Tone Deaf Monk
King Nubian
KrustyâolBastid
I did not receive the full retail package.
Along with the ear pieces I also have the very usable zippered carry case, that is on the larger size, but, pocket-able in a generous sized pocket.
12 pair of ear tips.
The 4.4mm pure copper cable is a nice offering, but nothing outstanding. 3.5mm option available at check out.
Pros and Cons:
3D printed, semi custom style resin shells are vented and capped with red stabilized wood face plates.
They are large, and thick.
Fitment for me is excellent, comfortable, secure, and very good ambient isolation.
Fit is of course personal and subjective, and, in particular those with smaller ears may face fitment challenges.
4.4mm pure copper cable is a decent offering and pairs well with the IEM, but at $1300 usd I was anticipating a more more unique/original cable.
3.5mm termination available at checkout.
Impressive driver configuration
1DD+8BA+4EST+1BC, totalling 14 drivers per side.
Pet peeve of mine is non-descript driver identification. If they are in house developed, or supplied by a lesser known manufacture, say so and provide some model numbers so we can become familiar with the alternatives being offered.
Considering the driver count Dawn X is fairly easy to drive, but does scale considerably with extra power/volume applied.
Not source fussy. But Dawn X does follow the nuances of the source device. (bright, warm, mids forward, etc.)
I rolled 12 separate DAPs/Dongles, and Dawn X sounded good on all.
An overall balanced presentation with very good bass, mids and highs.
Not sure what type of driver is used for the BC, but I find its presence very subtle.
Equipment:
AFUL Dawn X IEM, Aged 100+ hours.
Astell and Kern SP2000T, set to OP amp mode, 4mm balanced out.
Stock pure copper cable, terminated 4.4mm.
Eletech Baroque wide bore ear tips.
Sound:
Sub bass pulls really low with a rich, deep rumble. Mid bass has definitive impact and thump.
Nice texture and good dynamics.
AFUL doesnât specify the target frequency range of the bone conduction driver, but I donât find it adds much, if any, body or resonance to individual notes on stringed bass instruments. Something Iâm familiar with on many BC implementations.
Itâs possible the BC driver targets a wider frequency range and has a more subtle influence.
Vocals, mids, and upper mids are somewhat relaxed, not elevated, nor overly forward.
Detailed, but mostly macro detail retrieval.
Vocals, both male and female, lean a bit to the warm side. But natural and accurate.
The EST drivers are well implemented and carry the uppermost mids thru ultra highs very nicely.
Good micro detail retrieval, air, and sparkle.
Never a hint of harshness or sibilance.
Staging is more intimate than expansive, and not overly open or spacious.
Still a very nice head filling stage with good layering, and precise and accurate imaging.
Width left to right is nicely outside the ears.
Height top to bottom is very good with bass that can pull low, and highs with good sparkle and air.
Front to rear depth is average.
Summary:
Truthfully, I canât really find fault with the sound of the AFUL Dawn X.
Itâs a nicely balanced sound signature, nothing excessive, but nothing really lacking either.
It is necessary to turn the volume up to moderately loud levels to get all the drivers delivering their peak performance.
HoweverâŠ
I spent several lengthy listening sessions with Dawn X.
Rolling source devices, critical listening, and just listening for pleasure.
Many of us who have been in the hobby for awhile will be familiar with the experience of finding that special IEM that captivates and draws you into the music and wonât let you go, waiting in anticipation for the next track, knowing itâs late and you should call it a night, but canât help listening to several more tracks before finally taking them out of your ears.
Unfortunately, despite being an excellent sounding IEM, the Dawn X is not âthatâ IEM for me.
It failed to engage and mesmerize me.
Even after rolling 12 different sources devices looking for a synergy that would pop.
Iâm confident that Dawn X will have that âspecialâ sauce for many enthusiasts.
Just didnât have it for me.
My music sources:
Qobuz, and, FLAC and DSD files stored on the SD cards of my daps.
My music genre are primarily Rock, Blues, Jazz, Symphonic, Country, Rap, R&B, Pop, Electronic.
Enjoy your music.
4 Likes
Excellent 
thanks for sharing I felt exactly the same with this set.
Mail call and first listen to the Intuaura Iems Balance and Impact
Some special sauce in both of these IEMâs
The graph of the Balance doesnât reflect how deep and impactfull the bass is and the name of both perfectly reflects the sound signatures.
Excited to share more soon.
2 Likes
Title says it all!
Softears RSV MKII
"Balls Deep In Awesome Sauce!â
2 Likes
DDHiFi x Moondrop E13P MEMORY
Single Planar Driver Ear Buds.$169.99usd
From DDHiFi Website.
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Driver Configuration:13mm Ultra Linear Planar Driver Developed by Moondrop.
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Plug: For USB-C smartphones and devices.
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DAC Chip: CS43198 independent decoding.
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PCM Decoding Support: Up to 32bit/384kHz.
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DSD Decoding Support: Up to native DSD256.
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Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
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In-line Controls:Calls, recording, music play/pause
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Housing Process: CNC AL6063 aerospace aluminum
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Main Cable: Shielded, Reinforced braided 5N OCC wire
Preamble:
The Canuck Audioholics give our grateful thanks to DDHiFi for providing the DDHiFi x Moondrop E13P Memory Ear Buds for review purposes.
I didnât receive the retail packaging, but did receive everything that would have been in the box I believe.
The E13P Memory earphone assembly, the carry case, and KiwiFlex ear tips.
All are commensurate with the high quality I have come to expect from DDHiFi.
Disclosure:
The Memory is a product that typically would not have piqued my interest for a few reasons;
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I normally pass over bullet or ear bud style ear pieces. Primarily due to fit, seal, and anchor challenges with my ears.
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Non detachable cable. Personal preference is to have the option.
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No cable termination option(s) offered. Either via modular cable, or choice at check out.
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Inline microphone/function switch feature. Iâm fine with these, just not something I use, so, for me, not something that adds functionality or value.
** Spoiler alert: The Memory is what it is, but it has successfully altered some of my prejudices.
Pros and Cons:
I typically I wrap the cable over the ear on this style of ear piece.
But the design of Memory doesnât work well at all with a cable wrap over the ear.
Fortunately they fit well, and are reasonably secure in ear with the cable hanging straight down.
I listened for a while with Eletech Baroque ear tips, but found they did dislodge easily with body/head movement. Switching up to grippier Sedna Xelastecâs solved the problem.
Once the best tip selection was found, the Memory stay anchored, are lightweight, and fit easily and comfortable in ear.
Considering the small and lightweight nature of the ear pieces, I suspect very few enthusiasts will encounter fit issues.
The built-in USB-c DAC plug features a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chip. It is very capable, and pairs well with the earphones.
Compatible with iOS and Android.
Most will use Memory on a phone, tablet, or computer. Those who may wish to connect to a DAP, be aware Memory is not compatible with some DAPs (Astell&Kern) and requires UAPP app installed on those DAPs that Memory is compatible with.
** DDHiFi does NOT specify that Memory is compatible with DAPs on their website.
Calling feature does not appear to be compatible with iOS. I tried taking a couple calls on my iPhone 16, and, I was able to answer the call by pushing the inline control button on the cable, but no sound through the ear pieces, and pretty certain it was the mic on the phone that was picking up my voice.
If it is intended to work with iPhone, not sure what needs to be setup to do so.
Not an important feature for my daily use, so I didnât invest much time into it.
Button on the inline control does work to control playback in streaming apps (Qobuz in my case).
1 click to pause/start playback.
2 clicks to skip a track.
Memory does sound good. More on that below in sound evaluation.
The âmysterious indicator lightâ in the back end of the DAC module (where the cable comes out) is useful for letting you know the following info.
Blue: on standby
Green: PCM decoding
Red: Native DSD coding (up to 256)
However it is so subtle you will only notice it if you look inside the back end of the DAC module where the cable comes out, or, if lighting in the room is very subdued.
Equipment:
DDHiFi E13P MEMORY ear buds with in line USBc DAC.
iPhone 16 streaming Qobuz.
Sedna Xelastec wide bore ear tips.
Sound Evaluation:
The speed and impulse response of the planar driver makes for some interesting bass characteristics.
Definition between sub and mid bass is precise and distinct.
Sub bass has a nice rumble but the quick decay limits its ability to pull really low in the head space.
Mid bass exhibits a tight and almost snappy impact. A nice punchy thump, rather than a loose âwhoompfâ.
I find the bass works very well with most genre and just enough carry over to add some warmth to the mids.
On bass heavy genre, true bass enthusiasts may consider it a bit lean.
The mids and vocals are open, spacious, and highly detailed.
Elevated in the head space, good energy, but not over energetic, harsh or sibilant.
Excellent macro, and some micro detail here.
Vocals are clean and clear, with natural and accurate timbre and tonality.
Highs are rolled off, most of the detail is carried by the upper mids.
Cymbals, violins, piano etc. do rise up and add some sparkle and air to the high end, but they donât extend high into the head space. Overall the high end is somewhat subdued and very polite.
Head stage is intimate and very much inside the head.
Width left to right is good but doesnât extend outside the head.
Bass that doesnât pull low, and upper highs that donât extend high into the head space, limit top to bottom extension.
One of my pet peeves with planar drivers is their limitation on front to rear projection. The Moondrop developed planar in the Memory has surprised me with its ability to offer reasonable front to rear depth. Not outstanding, but respectable.
** Because of past disappointment with planars, I donât actively seek them out, and have passed over opportunities to review several of them. So there may be others that have overcome the lack of âdepth of fieldâ, but the Memory is a first for me.
Summary:
Despite the technical nit picks above, the DDHiFi x Moondrop E13P Memory is a very good sounding, and most enjoyable IEM.
Non-critical listening sessions were very enjoyable for me. Well balanced and âpoliteâ with enough energy to engage the listener for lengthy and enjoyable listening sessions.
Memory shattered some stereotypes for me. Typically not a fan of bullet or ear bud style ear pieces, the semi in ear design of memory fit comfortably and well in ear, and with the right ear tips, remained securely anchored throughout my listening sessions.
The planar driver with front to rear extension was a welcome evolution in planar technology.
I own a good bit of DDHiFi gear, cases, IEM and connectivity cables, and a few DAC dongles.
Iâve always been impressed with the quality of their gear. And Memory is no exception.
At $170 usd I feel the Memory is appropriately priced and represents good value. Clear detailed sound, Integrated DAC amp, and a quality shielded cable.
I even used the Memory on my iPhone while streaming video via Roku and the audio was so clean and clear Iâm seriously considering purchasing one for myself for late night TV viewing.
This one will soon be on its way to the next review stop.
My music sources:
Qobuz, and, FLAC and DSD files stored on the SD cards of my daps.
My music genre are primarily Rock, Blues, Jazz, Symphonic, Country, Rap, R&B, Pop, Electronic.
Enjoy your music.
2 Likes
Battle of Titans - Thieaudio Valhalla Vs Monarch Mk4 vs V16 Divinity (Thieaudio IEM Shootout)
5 Likes