Hidizs MP145 Review
INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:
The Hidizs MP145 is an in-ear monitor (IEM) with a single 14.5mm planar magnetic driver in each housing. The MP145 is currently available at an early bird price of $139 on Kickstarter. I received the MP145 directly from Hidizs in exchange for my review.
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:
The Hidizs MP145 comes in a black plastic box with a black slipcover. Technical details, in Chinese, English, and Japanese, are printed on the back of the slipcover. The lid of the box is embossed with the Hidizs logo. The MP145 earpieces are cushioned in a black sheet of foam within. The package includes three sets of silicone eartips (Vocal, Balanced, and Bass), each with three sizes (S, M, L) as well as a Hidizs-branded black pleather pouch, quality control pass chit, user manual, warranty card, and velcro tie.
BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:
The Hidizs MP145 earpieces are crafted from aluminum alloy and feature a seven-sided oblong faceplate with a three-sided fin-shaped element. A stepped pattern descends from each edge of the fin to the edges of the faceplate. Along the fin’s vertical axis are two elongated vents. A single circular vent is located above the nozzle on the interior of the housing. “HIDIZS MP145” is printed on the inside face around each earpiece’s directional indicator (also printed). The 2-pin entry sites are flush with the surface of the earpiece.
The MP145 features screw-on, interchangeable tuning nozzle caps that are slightly wider than their respective nozzles. This ensures a secure fit for eartips.
This review sample included a stylish and flexible 4.4mm balanced cable in gunmetal gray. It has a quad braid below Y-split and double helix pattern above. It features mirror-polished dark grey metal hardware with a single brass-colored ring at jack. There is rubber strain relief at the jack but none at the Y-split. The 2-pin connector housings are distinguished by blue and red rings for left and right. It has a chin-adjustment choker and preformed clear plastic earguides. The cable can occasionally get tangled but I did not find it to be a major issue.
COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:
Despite their size, the MP145’s earpieces are comfortable — the majority of their bulk rests outside the ear canal, and the nozzles have a shallow insertion depth. The fit and noise isolation are average, and there is no driver flex.
MEASUREMENTS:
My measurements of the Hidizs MP145 can be found on my expanding squig.link database:
Hidizs MP145 (Rose Gold) — Squiglink by Bedrock Reviews
SOUND:
The Hidizs MP145 has a warm sound signature with plenty of mid-bass presence and a prominent lower-treble peak.
The MP145 has excellent sub-bass extension, with tight, detailed and punchy bass. However, there is a bit of mid-bass bleed.
The Red filter of the MP145 provides the most bass, followed by the Silver filter and then the Rose Gold filter with the least bass. The filters do not alter the bass tuning, but the Red filter differs from the Silver and Rose Gold in the ear gain region. It has a mild, broad vocal plateau-style tuning from 1.5 kHz to 8 kHz. With the Rose Gold and Silver filters, the MP145 has a more distinct ear gain peak centered at roughly 2.5 kHz. While I generally prefer a distinct ear gain peak centered at 3 kHz, in the case of the MP145, I enjoyed the more relaxed upper midrange that the Red filter provided and spent most of my time with the MP145 using the Red filters.
Male vocals with the Red filter have good body, but lack presence and definition. Though switching to Silver or Rose Gold helped with male vocal separation, they still lacked detail. Female vocals, however, are more prominent and better defined. Female vocals are more forward, better separated, and more detailed. Timbre is realistic and there is a healthy amount of presence.
I preferred to use the MP145 with misodiko foam eartips rather than the included silicone eartips or my usual liquid silicone Softears UC tips. The lower treble peak was too intense for me with silicone eartips but foam eartips effectively reduced it, with minimal loss of upper treble extension.
Despite the MP145’s strong bass emphasis, it has excellent upper treble extension and a wide soundstage. However, instrument separation is average. Detail retrieval is very good for the price point.
CLOSING WORDS:
The Hidizs MP145 is a very good IEM and belongs on the short list of recommendations between $100 and $200, particularly if you are looking for a warmer IEM than many of the more neutral or reference-tuned options in this price bracket.
Hidizs Next Gen Ultra-large Planar HiFi IEMs — 9 Sound Types by Hidizs — Kickstarter