My thoughts on this fabulous New PULA Audio Unicrom
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I will publish its review tonight. But I must state that this might be the uber-cadenza I had guessed just at the moment I saw its specs. I loved its simple averageness and performing a lively playback better than the kiwi c.
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My experience with the Unicrom was brief. I feel it sets a pretty high bar at $70 but damn that flare in the nozzle at the tip just hit me in the wrong spot…weird ergos that
My Pula Unicrom Review
Hi everyone! I am very new to writing reviews. Please excuse me if I do a poor job at it. I would really like to hear your feedback and your suggestions. I am not looking to becoming a reviewer. Instead, I simply want to be able to occasionally have fun writing reviews for IEMs which I like. I like variations of the HBB tuning. I do not like the Harman tuning since the rise for the simulated pinna gain is too strong and is sibilant for me. There are other things which I do not like about the Harman tuning.
TLDR: The Unicrom is a very similarly tuned yet a noticeable improvement over the Kiwi Ears Cadenza. The unboxing experience and the quality of the cable and eartips and the storage case and accessories are very nice for these eighty-dollar IEMs. The unboxing experience really is quite enjoyable.
HiFiGo sent me the Unicrom out of the blue to see if I was interested in writing a review. Thank you HiFiGo! I have written only a few product reviews which are mostly unboxing reviews. I have never been paid to write any review and nobody has told me what to say. I am only willing to write reviews for products which I like.
About me…
I am totally deaf in my right ear. This means that I can only describe audio performance in terms of overall tuning, overall technical performance, and macro and micro details. I cannot describe anything which requires stereo hearing such as soundstage and instrument and vocal positions on the soundstage. Another side effect of being completely deaf in one ear is that I am overly sensitive to the overall tuning.
A quick audio summary…
Simply put, the Pula Unicrom is a better Kiwi Ears Cadenza. I think that there are a lot of people who have been waiting for a better Cadenza since they like the Cadenza’s overall tuning. The Unicrom is tuned very similarly to the Kiwi Ears Cadenza which was my favorite budget IEM a few years ago when the budget IEM wars were raging. The Unicrom has noticeably better technical performance and better macro and micro details in comparison to the Cadenza. You don’t have to be an audiophile to hear the difference. Simply listen to the clarity of fainter details, be it in instruments or vocals, especially when listening to busier tracks. The difference is obvious.
Just like the Cadenza, the Unicrom is slightly bright in the upper midrange, yet the slight brightness is controlled such that it stays below becoming sibilant for me. For reference, I dislike Harman tunings since the simulated pinna gain is too strong. I much prefer the Hawaii Bad Boy tuning which has a lower simulated pinna gain. The upper midrange of the Unicrom and the Cadenza floats in between these two tunings such that I can enjoy the excitement which stays a bit below being sibilant.
The Unicrom has very nice and clean bass. The sub bass is really nice. Drums and bass guitars have a nicer texture on the Unicrom than on the Cadenza. The midrange is nice and clear yet is slightly recessed, just like the Cadenza. Female vocals sound quite lovely on the Unicrom since the Unicrom has a nice 6 kHz dip in the upper midrange in order to prevent “s” and “sh” sounds in female vocals from being harsh. I also like the clearer details in the upper midrange.
Fit and comfort…
I have smaller ears. I have no issues with how nicely the Unicrom IEMs fit in my ears. Imagine the Cadenza, and then imagine that the Unicrom has slightly larger shells and mildly shaped wings. The angle of the Unicrom’s nozzles is slightly better for my ear canals. The Unicrom nozzles are 5.0mm in diameter. The nozzle flanges are 6.3mm in diameter. I think that the shell necks which lead up to the nozzles have sufficient length to make it easy to get a good seal for most people.
Supplied accessories…
I totally love the Unicrom’s dark brown cable which has interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs. Everything about the cable works as expected. The 4-core cable is not springy and is soft and supple. The chin slider stays in place like glue.
Unicrom reviews which I like from other reviewers…
I hope you will have fun watching the following video reviews by a couple of reviewers that I really like. These other reviewers are much better than me in terms of describing the Unicrom’s audio performance. Please see:
Unboxing photos…
Below are my unboxing photos in the sequence of unboxing these IEMs.
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I think you described they nicely! Thanks for sharing and your time reviewing this set.
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Thank you. Hopefully I will get better at describing sound.
Hey guys! First time posting here, wanted to share the love for Unicrom. I’ve really been enjoying this set a lot. The bass is detailed and impactful, instruments and vocals stand out well and there is very little in terms of sibilance. I’ve also found the tuning is great for movies/tv as well as music. My previous favorite set under $100 was Simgot EW300, and while I still like it, Unicrom is more versatile as it handles movies/tv better to my ears and I prefer it’s bass presentation. Props to Pula for making a beautiful looking set, with a nice quality cable and case, for under $100 (with a great tuning to match!).
I couldn’t resist using my blue and black XINHS D05 cable on it though. It was previously an MMCX cable I had got for Falcon Ultra, but the MMCX connectors started failing on the cable (go figure), so I converted it to 0.78mm 2-pin, and now am using it on Unicrom and it’s a perfect match. My favorite tips for it are Penon Orange Liqueur and latex H570 tips.
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I didn’t really expect to like this IEM this much. To my ears, it really sounds like some of my hybrid iems. Some people like it with female vocals, I find it too sparkly. That being said, this is the only IEM in my collection that gives male vocals the right amount of brightness, this helps a lot since I am sensitive to 5k and also around 10k.
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Pula unicrom will have a 15$ discount on Amazon prime day - Amazon.com: HiFiGo PULA Unicrom Beryllium-Coated Dynamic Driver IEM, HiFi in Ear Monitor, Wired Gaming Earbuds with Detachable Interchangeable Plug 0.78 2pin 3.5/4.4mm IEM Cable for Musician Audiophile (Green) : Electronics
If anyone is interested, good time to pick one up.
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Pula Unicrom: Classy Design, Comfortable Fit, Competent Sound
Pros:
- Good accessories package
- Classy faceplate design
- Great Fit and comfort
- Good mid bass thump and slam
Cons:
- Sub bass rumble and texture could be better.
- Not for people who want clean and well separated lower mids (Subjective)
- Some may want more upper treble.
Specs And Driver Configuration
- Driver configuration: 10mm beryllium-plated dynamic driver
- Sensitivity: 101dB ±3dB
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Shell Material: Resin with stabilized maple wood faceplates
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.5%
- Weight: Approx. 6.6g per side
Before starting the review, I want to thank Hifigo for sending this iem for a review.
Accessories Package
The accessories package is good for the price. Things provided in the box are 1. Carry case 2. Two different types of tips 3. Modular termination cable 4. 3.5mm termination
The carry case is excellent. It offers great protection for the IEMs. It is built well and feels sturdy and robust. It’s nice to see this good quality of a case provided. The included cable is also very good; it feels premium and solid. It behaves well and doesn’t have any memory. The ear tips are decent too, providing a good seal and solid isolation.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
Pula has done a commendable job with the aesthetics of the unicrom. It looks beautiful and classy. The stabilised wood faceplate looks gorgeous yet understated. If you are not a fan of loud and blingy faceplates, this will be right up your alley.
The build quality is also good for the price. The shells are made of resin and feel sturdy and well-built. It strikes the perfect balance between being lightweight and feeling solid.
Fit and Comfort
The fit and comfort of the IEM are excellent. The shell is quite small, and the nozzle isn’t too large, so it fits my ears really well. The overall design isn’t bulky either, so they sit nicely in the ear and don’t jut out much. I have no complaints about fit or comfort. I can wear them for hours without any issues.
Sources Used & Drivability
To test the Unicrom, I used the FiiO JM21, fiio Melody and Onix XI1. Unicorn requires a fair bit of power to perform at its peak, so pair it with a decently powerful neutral-sounding dac amp.
Sound
I used the Dunu S&S for my sound testing, as they gave me the best fit and sound. The Pula Unicrom has a very pleasing and non-offensive V-shaped tuning that plays multiple genres well.
Bass
The bass on this set is good. The Unicrom’s low end has both quantity and quality. The bass is fast and snappy, and the beryllium DD holds its composure well during hard hits.
The sub-bass rumble and texture are decent, not the best at this price, and the Unicrom clearly favours mid-bass over sub-bass. The mid-bass has good thump and slam. The attack is crisp, but the decay is slightly on the faster side, which keeps the bass tight and quick, though it does lack a bit of density.
Mids
The mids are also good. Mid bass gradually transitions into the Lower mids, imparting warmth and body to this region. Upper mids are also tuned to balance the lowermids, and they also cut out through the mix well. Both male and female vocals have good heft and extension to them.
However, if you prefer your vocals to be cleaner and more separated from the bass then this iem might not be for you. The presence region (4-6kHz) is just below my edge of tolerance. Vocals have good bite, but “SS” and “Ch” sounds can come across as sharp on poorly mastered tracks.
Treble
The treble on unicrom is also executed well. The focus is more on the mid treble than the air region. The treble is reasonably smooth and has good bite to it. It does not sound grainy as well. Extension into the air region is decent; it’s not boosted, but there’s enough energy to keep the sound balanced and prevent it from feeling cramped or dark.
Detail Retrieval and Technical Performance
The detail retrieval and overall technical performance of the Unicrom are decent for the price. Macro detail retrieval is good; it sounds fairly punchy and dynamic. Micro detail retrieval is also decent for its price bracket, though it’s not the most detailed set in its class. The soundstage isn’t the widest, but it doesn’t feel cramped either. Front-to-back depth is handled nicely, and instrument separation, layering, and imaging are all quite good for the price.
Conclusion
Pula has created a well-rounded package with the Unicrom. It’s not the most exciting IEM in its price range, but it doesn’t have any major flaws either. You get a good accessories package, great looks, solid sound, and excellent fit and comfort. It’s an all-rounder that gets a lot of things right.
There’s a lot of competition in this price bracket, but the Unicrom is still a very competent IEM and definitely deserves a spot on your shortlist. Overall, it gets a thumbs-up from my end.
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