The outgoing year has firmly convinced me of one truth: if you have something made in Shozy/Cozoy, I can be sure that the usual or ordinary, this decision certainly will not. Here and headphones Hibiki, Shozy developed in collaboration with AAW, no exception.
In my opinion, in the case of Shozy it is no exaggeration to say that they sound much more important commercial component, because their devices are often made “in spite of” all the market trends. However, recent trends show that it is a departure from the “average” of the sound is able to bring the company success (does not refer to all the time on the Shozy, I will mention as example the FiiO X5-3). Shozy, following in the head of this movement, regularly go for bold experiments, for example, the previous Zero headphones offered specially darkened sound that many liked. Hibiki, which we will discuss today, done the complete opposite of Zero and offer sound, focused on lovers MF and HF. The model was developed in cooperation with AAW, but Shozy decided to give it a fairly budget price tag approximately equal to 60 dollars.
Specifications
- Emitter: dynamic, 10 mm, with a membrane of biocellulose
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
- Impedance: 18Ω
- Total harmonic distortion: ≤0,5% @ 1 kHz
- Cable: removable, with duchenois connector (0,78 mm)
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRRS
Packing and delivery
The box is made is very traditional: the black box from the dense cardboard, white “dust cover”, printing the most common — in General, manufacturers are trying to do everything possible to keep this section of my reviews have outlived their usefulness.
Inside, still humble, earphones, short user manual and two spare bits (in addition to a pair that is immediately worn on Hibiki).
Design and comfortable wearing
But the appearance Shozy it was successful: the housing is made of plastic with soft-touch effect, in the form it is stylized as the demo custom headphones — the same ergonomic casing that fit the majority of ears, the same flat faceplate (exterior panel). By the way, faceplate covered with real carbon, which in combination with the silver trim looks very expensive.
From the point of view of convenience, the headphones are very good, they will fit almost all participants, with the exception of owners of small ears. Due to the absence of sharp edges, Hibiki does not cause discomfort when wearing, although the sound channel I would like to have a little bit longer. Soundproofing a little less than average, but for use on the street these IEM are quite suitable.
The cable is made removable, it uses 2-pin power connector located at the top of the headphone in the calculation of the behind-the-ear wearing, sockets — recessed. There are Saushkina with the “memory effect” that allows you to bend them for themselves, providing a secure fit in the ears. In General, the included cable is very good quality, it is made of high purity copper and provided with a headset with a good quality MEMS microphone. The wire is very soft, with high quality netting, it almost does not harden in the cold, the medium is prone to tangling, microphone effect is weak. In my opinion — this cable can be used with more expensive headphones, unless, of course, they are also equipped with a 2-pin connector.
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 and iBasso DX200 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 48 hours.
If you expect from Shozy some unusual sound, and this time you will not be disappointed. With Hibiki seems like they’re going to release anti-Zero, making headphones, focused on mid-range with a bright sound.
The bass here is very good from the point of view of quality — it is very fast, with good resolution, good hlestkost and a decent study of the textures, for the price very pleased with the bass response. The only problem is that it there is little quantified, and then not just missing the typical, expected by many to rise bass bass there’s even slightly less than the level that is considered to be the norm for “neutral” models. Since this is clearly “not a bug, but a feature” — apparently this was a deliberate decision of the developers. In fact, if you use a player with a good equalizer, bass here can be pulled up to the “typical level”, the same Lotoo Paw 5000 Mark II is a virtue, but it remains a question of expediency — why try to make a headphone something they are not?
The midrange is the main strong point of the model. Thanks to the reduced amount of bass and a slightly relaxed treble, the “center” of the range then forward that on many tracks creates a very bold, a little intimate flow, allowing you to literally sink into the vocal and the characteristic sound of some instruments. The transfer of emotions and mikrodetaley — here’s something to get Hibiki, for certain styles of music (more on this below) they can really surprise you. The imaginary scene is built very well, its width slightly more than the average, depth — average, but the division made plans for the amazing price level.
HF serves is straightforward, the only thing to do with them headphones some smooth attack, in order to make a sound not sharp, to deprive him of his aggressiveness, which would otherwise be characteristic of light model. The solution, of course, is not prohibitive, but for the price not bad, not bad Hibiki also manage damping, although the diversity characteristic of treble expensive models, then no.
Comparison this time I will not spend, as the model has it’s own distinct flow, and to paint the difference in the style of “does not like” — makes no sense.
Compatibility
In principle, headphones can be used with a smartphone, the more that a headset cable included hints at this, and due to the nature of the submission Hibiki really play well with simple sources. But they have stocks of “growth” for higher-quality sources like the players initial and initial-average level, the main thing to decide what you want to emphasize the character of the sound of these IEM, or, conversely, to compensate.
Stylistically headphones gravitate to those styles, where the important solution and purity MF: vocal recordings, classical, instrumental music. Sensitivity to the quality of the recording — medium, where on 7 points out of 10.
Traditionally some tracks for example
Ella Fitzgerald — Can’t we be Friends. Wonderful vocals, beautifully decorated Hibiki, served in all the richness of nuances, allowing you to enjoy all aspects of the famous Duo.
Wes Montgomery — Tequila. One of those tunes that we heard, but we don’t know neither the name nor artist. Beautiful, although the old entry in Hibiki just comes to life, surprising and nuances of the guitar sound and study of percussion.
Norah Jones — The Nearness of You. Well, another track, just the same created for Hibiki and the long winter evenings. A minimalistic composition in a good headphones is revealed as a Chinese box of surprises, surprising depth that lurks behind the external simplicity.
Insights
Shozy made some interesting headphones. Of course, this feed will not be for everyone, but if you are looking for headphones with the main emphasis on the midrange, which tends to be detail and micro-contrast — Hibiki is exactly what you need. Good quality and reasonable price will become additional nice bonuses.
Review headphones Shozy Hibiki is able to surprise
Pavel Dmitriev