Acquaintance with unknown Chinese brands sometimes resembles a hobby type of fishing: you never know what will “catch”. This time abandoned almost at random bait brought me a very interesting result, hybrid OS V3 headphones from the company that has taken its name HiFi Boy (feel the irony?).
If you try to rate those headphones in terms of a “theory” — no supertechnology are conventional hybrids, made under the scheme “1+2”, that is, a speaker for NCH and the beginning of the mid-range, plus a couple of the reinforcing emitters for MF and HF, housing made of acrylic… all very traditional, but developers have turned out a surprisingly good sound that combined with the nice price (only $ 160 on PenonAudio) and good design made this model interesting.
Specifications
- Emitters: 7 mm dynamic + 2 × balanced armature
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 19Ω
- Sensitivity: 109 dB
- Cable: removable, 1.2 m silver Plated copper with dukenbai 0,78 mm connectors
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRS straight
Packing and delivery
Here, without any frills: external cover sheet with good printing, inner box of cardboard. Inside the adapter (6.3 mm and “aviation”) and a large case with zipper, inside of which are the headset, cable and odnoplanovye 3 pairs silicone ear tips of different “caliber.” Overall, the accessories are traditional, but what prevented sypanut more bits of mystery. Although, of course, to buy on the same “Penone” or something extra — it is worth a penny.
Design and comfortable wearing
That is what clearly has been the developers, it is design. Black, nearly opaque plastic goes well with the design “a generic version of CIEM”, is even all the details like “anatomical” tab at the top of the case. Build quality too was fantastic, the joints are almost invisible flaws — absent, chrome plated logo on faceplate performed at a level worthy brands of the first echelon. For lovers of drama there is another option in blue and red, but, in my opinion, is already too much beauty.
V3 OS, like most modern high-quality headphone intended for BTE planting, shape their shells, a fairly compact size and the exhaust at the correct angle to the sound channel promote comfort and provide sound insulation slightly above average level.
Wire a plug, and then HiFi Boy went “against the tide”, the first version of their headphones were equipped with MMCX connectors, but then (rightly so) they stated the low reliability of such connectors and replaced them dukenbai 0.78 mm forks. Don’t know what they had with MMCX, but the new connectors are good at their task, securely locking the cable. According to the developers, the bundled wire is silver plated copper of high cleaning, do not know if this is true, but visually and to the touch cable is very good. Throughout its length it is made of 4-core and gently gossip from top to bottom. It is very soft, the cold doesn’t harden, slightly prone to tangling and almost no noise from friction on clothing. Near the ear-hook connectors made without memory effect, but because they are soft enough that “adjustment” comes, you can say, automatically.
Sound
To listen following equipment was used.
- Yulong DA9 and Resonessence Labs Concero HP in the role of DAC and amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as the source
- Fidelia in the role of player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, theBit OPUS#2, Astell&Kern, A&ultima SP1000 and the role of other portable players
- Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky have The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening headphones were heated for 72 hours.
In General, unknown, workaholic from HiFi Boy tried to do the maximum possible to squeeze out of a total of three emitters maximum sound: high-quality wire, the special coating of the inner surface of the headphones separate zvukovoy for woofers and midrange/tweeters… And we have to admit — they managed to make the model not only good sound, but even something with our own unique handwriting. In addition, immediately draws the attention good for its price coherence emitters — their “seams” are hardly noticeable, although this is usually one of the biggest problems inexpensive hybrid models.
Bass here is very elastic, quite biting, with a small, quite appropriate accent. The overall balance of their slightly biased towards speed, which provides a very decent headphone for the budget resolution and high quality textures. The bass goes very deep, and, importantly, controlled deep bass is fine and not trying to bury under itself the rest of the range.
The lower midrange have a slight emphasis on warmth, which gives the flow of pleasant shade, although, like any unable to fix their, but this is not always appropriate (but almost always effective). Such embellishment adds physicality to the instruments and emphasizes the expressiveness of the singers, especially with low votes. The upper midrange is typical of rebar, with a good resolution and neutral flow, but without bias in sharpness and excessive emphasis microcontrast. An imaginary scene more average in width and about average in depth, but the separation of instruments and plans, the headphones are able good.
The high-frequency range of this model I especially liked. OS V3, of course, not for RF-foby as they are not trying to mask the treble or balance out their attack, but the sharp peaks and artificial accents here either. The attack and decay of the RF average, but the “top” have good detail, good for this segment length, and even trying to demonstrate is typical for expensive models the separation of HF (though it turns out not great, but not that bad).
Of course, to compare this model with all existing competitors in the price segment is not possible, so I chose some of the most typical representatives.
Ostry KC09. The difference is due to the constructive, Ostry a little darker in General, have a less pronounced treble, but slightly worse resolution, especially on the upper half of the audible range.
Whizzer A15 Pro. These headphones sound a little sharper in the field WSC and treble, but “colder” on the total flow, especially in the lower midrange, and in General tend to be more pronounced neutrality.
Ibasso IT01. The reverse situation, headphones with a more pronounced V shape frequency response, more accentuated bass and treble, more laid by the wayside midrange, sound more “spectacular” than neutral.
FiiO F9 Pro. With the General parity in the midrange (the only difference in colder midrange from FiiO), bass at F9 less underlined and the RF, on the contrary, a little more accented.
Compatibility
In principle, these headphones you can listen to and with a mobile phone, the rejection of such a combination is, but for full disclosure of their strengths is better to use a player of an average price category, choosing a supply source to fit your tastes.
Genre model is also very neutral, no strong preference, although the music with good bass from them sounds very impressive. The quality of the recording they are moderately tolerant, conditional on a 10-point scale their “picky” it is possible to evaluate points on the 6th, although much depends primarily on the quality of the recording high frequency range.
The course review will be incomplete without a few examples
Audioslave — Revelations. Traditionally, “supergroups” Audioslave pleasing beautiful enough original material. Of course, very difficult to call this track is impossible, but the same guitar solo with an unexpected finish around 2:20 to play is not easy. The successful combination of weighty bass and detailed VSC allows HiFi Boy OS V. 3 to show their best side, presenting the track and details, and driving.
Sam Jones — This Here. Well, Yes, Yes, who can demonstrate the advantages of the hybrid headphone with fast bass better than a jazz bassist? Except that a jazz bassist and some great musicians. I’ve search through the archives in search of the right track and, hopefully, after listening to him, you will understand that these searches were not in vain. OS V3 surprisingly good play here and the bass and other instruments, revealing this track, if not completely, then very good.
Erykah Badu — Appletree. Well, another track to showcase all the advantages of hybrid technology, on the one hand, pomassirovti ears audiophile bass, and with another — to please the small nuances of the main melody that the heroes of this review is quite possible. I’ve included in the compilation Remix of this track, but now the time has come for the original.
Insights
Again, Chinese manufacturers proved that emerged out of nowhere the company is able to immediately deliver a very decent product, offering not only quality performance and design, but also a very decent sound with specific interesting features. In General, to say that HiFi Boy received a “best of the best” would be an exaggeration, but the fact that they are quite capable to compete with the best representatives of the segment, of course.
Buy HiFi Boy OS V3
Review headphones HiFiBoy OS V3 model is not a boy, but her husband
Pavel Dmitriev