I mean the Qudelix 5k has some power…
I guess I will be able to listen to EJ 07m very soon! Very quick reaction from Shuoer! Unbelievable!
4 Likes
Yes, and more than enough for most IEM stuff. Some higher end buds are 120ohms plus, and that was what he was talking about 
7hz Timeless first real impressions
You shouldn’t buy timeless if:
- You don’t like planar timbre;
- You’re a slam slave;
- You’re an a VERY BIG soundstage slave;
- You’re VERY sensitive to treble (more than me);
- You like more anemic bass.
You should buy timeless if:
- You never heard a planar and you’re curious about;
- You already like planar timbre;
- You are a detail slave;
- You like elevated bass/treble;
- You prefer less neutral tunings;
- You have an amp that can push it;
- You wanna play with or test hybrid tubes;
- You’re a Tea Cult member.
With that out of the way, it’s pretty obvious now that if you fall under the first category, you can stop reading now.
If you didn’t, I will still give you more reasons to demote you:
- Timeless is effecient but still needs power. All my thoughts were wrote using XD-05 Balanced, Topping NX7 and Xduoo MT-602. It won’t sound as good with lower power sources so you’ve been warned. I will test with Qudelix 5k once I get it on the following days;
- Fit, comfort and isolation are great for me but, as always, YMMV;
- You might need to tip roll. I’m using CP100 large at the moment, but I’ll tip roll a bit later. Sounds good with foamies for those out there that love those;
- QC gamble - It’s still chifi after all and you’re for sure gambling given the reports out there. Proceed with caution. I got 2 units (one regarding first revision and the 2nd one is the newer one) and both sound pretty much the same, but still a gamble;
- The most important reason: You don’t have 200$ right this moment. If you don’t, stop reading here.
You still reading this? Well, you’ve been warned.
First of all, if you didn’t, you should watch Crin’s unboxing video, as I literally had the same reaction. You can also check his review video more than you should be reading this post.
Everyone loves something about their favourite IEM - there’s just something that connects with you and just does it right, like some other can’t. I could just ramble about EJ07, RSV and Mangird Tea all day, but that’s not why we are here. We’re here to ramble on 7hz Timeless and what do I love in it, since it got the 5th spot on my current colection.
So, what do I love on Timeless? It’s resolution capabilities. It took me 10 seconds to literally go dumbdumb during my unboxing - 5 seconds for my brain to adjust and get a chill and another 5 seconds to drop my jaw as I’ve paid less than 200usd for these. What in the actual hell is this? This is a glitch in the system, a bug in the matrix. It shouldn’t sound this good for this price range - and I’m glad that it does.
Tuning
Elevated mid bass that only flattens @ 500hz and some treble elevation is one of the worst characteristics to my preferences but, somehow, someway, these still sound much better than they graph and I’m guessing it’s due to the planar driver - this tuning on DD would be likely to sound way different.
I’d described them as a bass boosted neutral or warm balanced with mids feeling a bit forward.
Bass will be a bit different than the usual DD bass, as it is very fast (almost like a BA) but still has some pounch and texture to it. Mid-bass is more preminent than sub-bass and is most likely to be the star of the tuning show. Kick drums and bass guitars are there, some warmth and note weight are given on the way.
Mids have detail and feel organic, altho the planar timbre is different than we’re used to. They are close to your face but not enough to blur everything else. They never felt thin or shouty, which I really really appreciate.
Treble has some elevation to it and I can imagine it being fatiding to very sensible people, but I didn’t found it that much. Extension is well done, help with some separation and a more airy presentation, helping the not so good stage depth.
Techs
Timbre is planar: Either you like it or you don’t. You won’t know it until you try it.
Stage is not wide, lacks depth but has some height. I’d describe it as a cube in front of you, and you’re watching the show touching the glass. Since it has some air and separation, I can let this one pass and doesn’t make me feel claustrophobic. During my testings, I felt the transducer tried to compensate some lack of depth with separation through heights, which is strange to some and hard to describe, but it is what it is. Depth is the weakest link on this set and affects some of the separation and imaging as well.
Imaging is fine, as you can point where stuff comes from, but the lack of stage depth seems to deceive it. It’s not pin-point accurate like EJ07m, but you get the idea. This is felt the most on busier tracks, because during tracks like Yosi Horikawa’s Crossing, it passes with good colors.
Detail is very good and over the roof for the price bracket. It’s insanely resolving for the price, as I said above. The real star of the show and the best trait of this pair.
Veredict
I didn’t found a single problem with the tuning. Sure, I still would prefer it somewhat closer to my target (less mid-bass and treble elevation), but there’s moments where you have to realize when something is great, even if it’s not the closests to your preferences, because might be to others. To me it feels slightly different than my usual go to, so I enjoyed that. It treated vocals very well and the elevated pinna gain helped the mids presentation that I value a lot.
The real handicap of this set is on stage depth. If you can live with that quirk, this set is a no-brainer in my opinion. It’s resolving capabilities are punch way above it’s price range, making me wonder the price brackets of this always evolving market, as we shouldn’t be paying for tuning but only for techs.
I feel I’ve been rough on my words through all this post, making most people doubt about the purchase, as I know this has been a polarizing set, but this should make up for it:
In my opinion, this set is very close to Mangird Tea on my preferences, doing some stuff better and some stuff worse. Given so, the ranking on my list will most likely be very close. It’s the first IEM under 300 that makes me question it so, credits where it’s due: 4.5/5.
21 Likes
You know, if it weren’t for the S12 (
), I would have bought the spare pair of yours off your hands in a heartbeat, for the sake of getting a taste of a planar IEM
2 Likes
Me neither…especially on a Hybrid amp with Siemens 5654W tubes they hit way, way above their asking price…It’s an IEM planar 
in the dust for sure 
'em.
2 Likes
I’m giving them away as a late Xmas gift I’m very curious about S12 tho 
4 Likes
I’m so curious about this too - it’s almost at a price where I could blind buy but I will resist 
2 Likes
Nice write-up! I like your bullet point alerts at the start of the review. Happy listening!
1 Like
Wonderful write up thanks!
2 Likes
Rapid-fire impressions: Christmas aftermath
Part One - IEM Edition
Tin Hifi P1 Plus (Planar)
Unless you’re under a rock you know that, after the inital waves of timeless, Tin Hifi quickly came out with a revision on its most sold planar, T1, and called it plus. Major changes seem to be a slight tuning change and the efficiency of the IEM itself - OG P1 seems to take more energy than the sun can give, - which was very welcomed by the P1 cult followers.
I decided to try it since I had zero experience with planars and also to have something to compare with timeless and, oh boy, was I wrong.
Everyone knows by now that I’m a special snowflake and I like lower elevations, darker trebles, loads of mids so, as you can imagine, once I saw the graph, I was sold.
Yeaaaahhh, no. I don’t like the stock tuning and it just feels veiled. None of the planar awsomeness except for the timbre…
PEQ time, I guess (image is using Riku’s measurements as a guidance and then proceeded to use my ears as a tuner):
Low-shelf: +3db @ 100hz - Q:1
Peak: +3 @ 2500hz - Q:3
Peak: +3 @ 3900hz - Q:3
Still a no to me. Despite a better tuning, sound is still a bit veiled and I don’t like its techs: Depth is bad, stage is not the greatest and imaging is average. Detail tho, it’s not the best and not at all what I was expecting.
Very hard for me to rec it when Timeless exists on a similar price (during sales) and I’d much rather just get Etymotic ER2XR at 100usd over these.
Conclusion: Want a planar? Buy 7hz Timeless. Want the best around 100usd? Get etymotic ER2XR if you don’t mind the fit. I don’t have much more to add to it at this point…
Value Ranking: 2/5
Final Audio VR3000 (1DD)
Single DD kicking in at around 80 bucks, having 5 minutes of spotlight due to a flash sale on Amazon UK and thanks to @PopinTeddy 's shilling. We can always use more Final E tips, right?
First, let’s talk abou the big Dumbo in the room. Final Audio channel matching is worse to none. This alone is a nice reason to avoid their IEMs.
Second, the price. Although most people paid around 30 bucks during the sale, its MSRP is 80 bucks. That puts you above Mele price and right below Etymotic price, A.K.A. too close to the sun.
Tuning wise, they don’t offend me since the mids are actually good for the price I paid for it. Bass is not overcooked and has minimal texture, which is still fine if we consider what I paid for it. Treble is… below average and overcooked. It has some weird sharpness and timbre, that if I didn’t knew better, I’d say this IEM was an hybrid. My guess is that the driver is at its limits to reach that tuning. Also the 8k seems to be a real peak and not a coupler artifact. Extension is average for the price.
Technicalities wise, well, it’s a bummer. Firstly it’s a gaming/VR set, so what do are we expecting? Did I heard someone saying Stage? Yeah, nope. Depth and height are none existent (inside your head, width is average at best…
So, where’s the VR part of it? Imaging I guess, since it’s actually well done, but since it lacks stage presentation… 1+1=2.
Detail is average for price but bad for MSRP. Timbre is not good on treble at least.
Conclusion: There are cheaper ways to get Final E tips.
Value Ranking: 1/5 (at 80 USD)
13 Likes
did you ever sell your fidelio x3s? just curious
1 Like
I am still considering buying a Moondrop Variations despite owning and loving the timeless… I would primarily hope it to be even more detailed in the treble (everyone is talking about that magic Variations treble) and some more slam. I am aware of the analytical nature and the lacking mid bass of the Variations, which I expect to suit my preference.
Would you say it’s worth it or is the timeless on par and it’s not worth spending the money on the Variations?
3 Likes
The dilemma at the moment is: is S12 a killer of everything, including FH9? I don’t think so, but let’s wait for the people who will buy it. 
1 Like
Not yet! Anything you wanna know?
Variations has more detailed and better treble, yes. regarding bass, it’s negative elevation and negative slam. If you want slam, avoid Variations. I’d say EJ07m for tribid if slam is request, but treble is darker than Variations (altho more naturaly detailed, but Variations feels as much if not more resolving due to fake treble elevation).
1 Like
If Shuoer is able to do a timeless with better stage, everything will be in trouble under 500 usd. I’m just not sure it can be done. Let’s see how it goes 
2 Likes
Rapid-fire impressions: Christmas aftermath
Part Two - Sources Edition
xDuoo MT-602 (Hybrid Desktop Tube Amp)
Season of firsts for me: with first planars came along with first tube experience, as I decided the time was right to delve into this hole.
MT-602 kicks around 100 USD, is an hybrid Class-A amp, containing tubes on the pre-amp. Tubes can be rolled, but my impressions will be only regarding stock tubes. It’s non-balanced, which means both of the outputs are single ended (6.35mm and 3.5mm).
As expected, this source is very powerful and not made to IEMs making most of them have some background noise - You’ve been warned. There’s also some channel imbalance when volume is too close to zero.
Sound-wise, I’d describe it as slightly smoothed out - like EST drivers do, - a hair warmer and a soundstage increase. For power hungry IEMs like Timeless, P1 Plus or Heart Mirror, this is just heavenly, and they have no background noise.
Conclusion: This is my first time using any type of tubes but so far, this gets a big rec on niche situations. To me, planars sound better on it than on solid state only. Also, for 100usd, you can’t go wrong if you’re always at a desktop and you just want a toy to use from time to time.
I’ll keep playing with it when at home and maybe roll the tubes in the future.
Topping NX7 (Portable AMP)
Topping decided to come back again with another portable amp. The plan was simple, no bells and whistles, just the essential: A volume knob, a 3.5mm line-in, a 3.5mm single-ended output, a 4.4mm balanced output, a gain button and a usb-c charging port.
Simple right? It better sound good.
And hell if it does! 0.1ohm OI, 1400w @ 32ohm (srsly, wtf?!!) and negative gain on the lowest setting just makes your IEMs like you ever wished they always were: Dead silent but deadly.
No, I’m not joking. It’s dead silent even though it can power a horse. Perfect for IEMs.
How does it sound? Well, veeeery clean so if you like more colored sounding sources, avoid this one. Soundstage is also big, giving it a better sense of separation and air. It brings me back memories of my L&P W2 dongle, maybe a bit more clinical.
It’s very clinical, as Topping’s desktop amps are described, so I’m guessing it’s the same Mojo. I love it, but I can see why some would call it lifeless.
“But nymz, it doesn’t have a dac!”
Yes, you gotta use a dongle. Apple dongle is literally 8 USD.
“Also no Bluetooth!”
Yes, but you can use a BT dongle and solve both problems. Qudelix5k comes to mind 
Also, a word on portability: it’s not that heavy, somewhat slim and has a nice form factor, especially if you wanna stack it with your phone/dap.
Conclusion: Big rec. I thought xDuuo XD-05 balanced would win the source of year award for me personally, but I’m not so sure anymore. Insane. Rec’d if you like clinical sources - I love it.
Hiby R5 Saber (Android DAP)
Disclaimer: For some weird stuff it seems that I got a version (chinese?) without google play store. I’m in contact with the seller to figure it out, but that doesn’t matter as the hardware specs are the same and I’m using flacs to test this.
At around 400 usd but most of the times found on sale for 300-350, Hiby’s R5 Saber has impressive specs on the paper: 1W @ 16ohm, 4.4mm balanced output, 3.5mm single-ended output that also serves as a lineout, Android 8.1 and a claim of 18h battery life. Box already includes a leather case so, don’t be me, and buy one on the side 
Form factor is very good for portability. Slim, small and light - reminding me of a much better version of the Sony NWA-105 I’ve owned before. Interface speed is fine and I haven’t found any bugs so far.
Regarding sound, that’s where it keeps getting interesting: It sounds amazing! It’s somewhere between NX7 and XD-05 Bal, as it is very clean but feels slightly more alive than NX7, without being as colored as xDuoo’s. Separation and stage also on pair with my other portable sources. Once again, the W2 vibes kick in.
Regarding power and OI: So far, no hish (I’m looking at you M3X) and enough power to take anything I own to the tracks.
Conclusion: This is my 3rd DAP but by far the best. It sounds amazing, not just as a DAP, but a source itself. I love it and it quickly threw M3X and NWA-105 out of the boat. Size is amazing if you love smaller/more portable daps. Power is enough for pretty much anything regarding IEMs. Big rec as well.
9 Likes