WATCH FULL UNBOXING HERE: https://youtu.be/Gm6N71zXj_Q
Come with me as I share my impressions on the Hidizs MS5, “Dark Angel”! This is Hidizs latest mid-ranger featuring 4 Balanced Armatures and 1 Dynamic Driver and tuning nozzles priced at $400! Let’s see if this angel is as majestic as it shows itself to be!
Thank you to Hidizs for sending this for my fellow reviewers and me to review!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- Decked out unboxing experience with heaps of accessories
- Large fitting that will definitely not fit people with smaller ears
- Very hefty but sturdy cable
- U-Shaped sound signature
- Deep, hard hitting and tactile bass
- Warm, lush midrange
- Spiky, uneven treble
- Odd overall timbre
- Compressed stage
- Decent separation and imaging
The Hidizs MS5 features 4 Sonion Balanced Armatures and 1 LCP Diaphgram Dynamic Driver, housed in a single 5-axis CNC alloy. It also features a total of 3 tuning nozzles, namely the bass, balanced and treble nozzles.
One of the things that stood out to me with the MS5 is how rich and deep the bass sounded. There was this sense of heft that, at least for IEMs in this price point, I have not heard refined to this level. This level of control you experience when listening to tracks with textured low end is quite special on the MS5. The midrange also sounds very lush and warm which is perfect for tracks that have rich vocals or instrumentation. I especially loved listening to male vocals with these as the lushness and fullness provides such a relaxing and smooth listening experience. That also means there is virtually no shout or harshness in the upper midrange with is great for people who are sensitive to shout. On top of that, you also get a pretty awesome set of inclusions along with the tuning filters that do have an effect on certain frequencies that generally affect the rest of the listening experience.
However, the MS5 has a few rather glaring issues. One is the cable being problematic in both the heftiness which causes you to essentially drag around the cable and the earhook where the plastic edges essentially scratch and stab your ear which is highly uncomfortable. The IEM itself is also ridiculously large and none of the tips compliment it well and required me to look for shorter, narrower bored tips. Lastly, the sound of the MS5 itself has a very odd overall timbre to it. The bass, while I do absolutely enjoy it, bleeds and colors the midrange which also affects the openness and clarity. But by far the worst aspect of the MS5 was that treble. It’s so uneven and the sudden drop post 10k causes music to sound rather low-res to my ears. Stage also sounds VERY congested, with separation and imaging being more on the average side. The nozzles also emphasize the less desirable aspects of the MS5 with the bass essentially making the sound muddy and the treble making the peak even sharper.
The MS5 is certainly an interesting IEM from its looks and its sound. It’s nice to see some brands expand on different sound signatures as it provides a wildly different experience from the majority of the market that follows essentially the same tuning. However, further refinement is certainly needed with the MS5 as it admittedly still sounds (and fits) rough around the edges. But this is definitely a different experience that, if you can, should definitely try.
Stay tuned for the full review!
If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below:
https://www.hidizs.net/products/hidizs-ms5-4ba-1dd-hybrid-5-units-hifi-in-ear-monitor-earphone
If you have any questions or concerns, contact me on my Facebook page or my email at obodioreviews@gmail.com
