As usual, Shozy doing unusual things, their headphones Hibiki that I have overlooked, is no exception: the low price and unusual sound made the fruit of cooperation Shozy and AAW a very interesting solution. The developers decided not to relax and have prepared a “special version” of the model.
This review should probably start by saying that I was wrong. When I did the review of the Shozy Hibiki, I assumed their sound, regardless of quality, will not be particularly popular simply because it is not mass tuning. Apparently, the demand for natural midrange I underestimated, and Hibiki managed to gain popularity. Their special version created Shozy offers improvements on two fronts. First is design: stylish faceplate, a slightly different body — all of that love audiophiles. Secondly, of course, sound. Shozy made a special inner chamber resonator, which allowed the SE to sound with a similar flow, but “one step better”. The price tag, however, crept up and is now $ 130 at the time of the review. But does it ever stop suffering for good sound?
Specifications
- Emitter: 10 mm dynamic biocellular membrane
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
- Impedance: 18Ω @ 1 kHz
- Total harmonic distortion: ≤0.5%
- Cable: replaceable, Ethos Black copper high purity with headset
- Connectors: 2-pin, 0.78 mm
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRRS
Packing and delivery
Box is much more visible in Asia, the principle: primulina the product, the more trees must die to produce it. However, the content reflected a little, inside are still the earphones themselves, 3 pairs of interchangeable nozzles of different size, the velvet pouch puffs and different instructions with garantiyschikami.
In General, if for the usual modifications that can be considered the norm, for a “special version” could at least nozzles sypanut just to create the appearance of “wealth”.
Design and comfortable wearing
After glance at the headphones claim to the package disappear by themselves. Of course, the first Hibiki looked impressive, but SE is doing a big step in the direction of “top-end” models. The housings have the same form, but their plastic is now translucent, and external panels are made of very impressive painted wood. In General, the beauty in all fields. Build quality — normal, however, to glue the plastic part of the case super-technology is not needed.
Headphones are a bit bulky, so owners of small ears they may not sit as it should, but the average size of the ear problems should not be. As sharp corners and projections do not exist, “Hibiki” provide a comfortable wearing even for a long time and sound slightly better than average.
Headphones feature replaceable wire, used to connect 2-pin connectors with recessed sockets. Package included very high quality cable from AAW, made of copper of high cleaning. It is soft, almost not harden in the cold and little inclined to tangling. The cable has three-button headset with a very high quality MEMS microphone, so in theory the headphone can be used with smartphones, but on the practical side, I will write a little lower.
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 was heated for 60 hours, the change in sound was observed the first 10 hours.
Shozy would not be myself if I released a headphone with “mainstream” tuning. If the regular version Hibiki had an emphasis on midrange and tweeters, who sometimes sound too lightweight, in a special edition of the tuning slightly shifted lower, so the emphasis falls on the midrange.
There is a very good bass depth, speed and density — in General for all quality characteristics. There is here and decent textures, and excellent separation of instruments of the lower registers. But quantitatively, there is less bass than accepted in modern headphones. Can’t say that the bass here are small, enough natural for wagering instruments, but accented the “bottom” model just will not work.
SCH here, too, good, neutral, emotional, very natural and no inclination to extremes. They have high detail, but not hard to stick out the dirt from the flaws in the recording. Midrange perfectly capture the emotions, emphasizing them a bit, but first they need the tracks in which these emotions are. An imaginary scene more average in width and in depth, with a very plausible separation plans.
The HF here has been reconfigured, so the “top” was less aggressive than in the regular version. While HF characterized by good length and quality transfer attacks and attenuation. In conjunction with the “comfort” of the flow, obtained an interesting result: on styles, where you need aggression, headphones sound softer than I would like, but on the complex, multifaceted music with live instruments RF do not cause problems.
Comparison this time I will not paint, as is often the case at Shozy, the model was not similar to anything else, so to write all the time: “it’s not like the sound of the model” — not a lot of sense.
Compatibility
In principle, headphone can be listening telephone, good the headset is on the wire it allows, and the sound this combination will be fine, if your smartphone is not really “the bottom” in terms of audio. But still, for a full “disclosure” of headphone they are very desirable source of at least medium initial segment or slightly better. You can choose to taste, Hibiki SE very nice respond to sound features players and DACs, often emphasizing their strengths.
Stylistically headphones are best suited for vocal music, tracks with live instruments, classical, jazz. They serve a very advantageous tracks with well written by an imaginary scene. The quality of the recording they are moderately critical where on 7 points out of 10.
According to tradition, some tracks for example
The Cinematic Orchestra — Child Song Here if to make on the farm Superbike, and the like, complex and multifaceted nu-jazz. The unique combination of naturalness and emphasis on midrange headphones make the best choice for such material.
Steely Dan — Do it Again Ringtone from the series “many have heard the name but don’t know everything”. Great jazz-rock team makes music perfectly suited to the character of the heroes of today’s review, especially the same benefits from them flow the rhythm section.
Eric Clapton — Cocaine and, perhaps, will not be original and choose to track, as well any manner of headphones. One of the most famous songs popular of musician emphasizes the detail and naturalness Hibiki SE, allowing them to perfectly convey all the nuances of the game Eric.
Insights
Of course, the model has lost its trump card — belonging to the budget segment, combined with a very expensive sound, but the improved design and the older “level” is largely worth it. However, according to rumors, the Shozy is preparing once again to surprise everyone.
Buy Shozy Hibiki SE
Review headphones Shozy Hibiki SE — development ideas
Pavel Dmitriev