BASN Metalen Pro Review
Intro
Well, hello everyone within the audio world, today I have with me the BASN Metalen Pro from the audio brand BASN. The Metalen Pro is actually a four-driver hybrid iem consisting of two dynamic drivers and two balanced armature drivers and comes in with an MSRP of around $129. That 2DD and 2BA arrangement is beginning to become more popular lately and good to see it implemented in the Metalen Pro. At any rate, I was more than happy to check out this set as I have had nothing but good experiences with every single BASN set I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and featuring at Mobileaudiophile.com. So far BASN is 3 for 3. Truly it’s been a joy getting to know this brand and the work they put into their iems. I’ve said it in every BASN product review that this is a brand which I simply skipped over on Amazon or any other place I saw them featured. Whatever store it was I made the mistake of not giving them the time of day. I quickly found out that this was a mistake. Thankfully the truly awesome people of BASN have been generous enough to send some of their newer iems so that I can see just how wrong I was. So, before I get ahead of myself (which I do often), I want to extend my gratitude to BASN, thank you! It has been a joy.
Pretty obvious
It was plainly obvious to me the second I heard the BASN ASONE (ASONE Review) for the first time. I heard easily one of the better tuned planar sets around the $100 price point. I’m still trying to convince people to give that set a shot. Next was the BASN BMaster5 (Bmaster5 Review) which flat out sounds awesome! Looks awesome! Accessories are awesome! Just a great experience from the minute I began opening up the package. Also, I listen to that set quite a lot. Lastly, is the set I have with me today, the BASN Metalen Pro. I’m not going to leave you all guessing as I’ve had a long time to sit and listen to this gorgeous iem. Usually I write my intros prior to even listening to my featured sets. However, I jumped right into listening and haven’t really turned back. So, I won’t leave you guessing… this set is very good. Again, the Metalen Pro comes in just over $100 and should be one of the sets on people’s short lists.
BASN
For anyone interested in checking out this brand I first want to direct you towards their web page HERE. So many people outside of stage users and those who would use their iems moreso as a tool don’t really know about how nice BASN sets are for straight-up casual listening. At least not a huge swath of hobbyists. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that BASN specializes in casual listening gear. I don’t know much about this brand, but it is easy to brush up on them when you read their Blog Posts or check up on their product listings. BASN actually has a large selection to choose from. Also, there’s a ton of good info and interesting reading on their site as they cover a whole range of topics that I personally find myself sitting for way too long reading. Well, too long for my wife anyways. However, I digress, what I like about BASN is the perceived transparency that they operate with. Nothing is hidden, nothing in the dark, no secrets, no grand claims or false promises. They present their products “as is” and do so in an honest manner. BASN has also been around for a long time. They aren’t spring chickens, folks. I believe they’ve been making audio gear since 2009, if I’m not mistaken. That in and of itself says multitudes about the brand. Not just with staying power but also being able to survive all the changes in the hobby over that time. This means moving with the market trends, and providing a valuable service for stage purposes, studio purposes and casual listening purposes. Basically, any brand that has stayed afloat for this many years has obviously been doing something right.
Competition
I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention in my intro that the Metalen Pro most certainly fights within a very competitive range. Of course, all price ranges are competitive anymore. However, I do believe that the $100 to $150 range is an especially difficult price point. Take a moment and think of the sets within this range! I almost want to list them all out but… that just isn’t fun. How about you just humor me and agree that the Metalen Pro needs to find its niche, and it needs to perform very well to compete for your dollar. I’ve reviewed a multitude of iems resting inside of this monstrous price point and I’ve reviewed many that could be considered tops in class. Depending on your sound signature preferences of course. There’s a few which come to mind that will give the Metalen Pro its biggest challenge. But to name just one, the Simgot SuperMix4 (Supermix4 Review) is certainly a tough challenge. Again, that also depends on what your preferences are. Things are getting interesting at this price point folks. Let’s get on with the review now. The BASN Metalen Pro everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:
Metalen Pro Pros
-Built like an absolute beast!
-The stainless-steel housing is striking, very nice looking iem
-Great unboxing and accessory package, as per usual with BASN
-Nicely balanced sound
-Plump, deep, and also well-defined bass
-Milky and smooth midrange, good presence for vocals
-Treble is non-offensive yet still has some crispness and extension
-Just a very pleasant and musical sound
Metalen Pro Cons
-Bass may be a hair much for those who usually desire less
-Neutral and bright lovers may not enjoy this one
-Not a separation King
Gear used for testing
–Ifi Go Blu
–EPZ TP50
–Simgot Dew4x
–Aful SnowyNight
–Fiio Q15
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
–Shanling M6 Ultra
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The BASN Metalen Pro arrived at my home in a roughly 6″x5” box with a sleeve on the outside. The sleeve simply has a picture of the Metalen Pro on the front and has a list of all the color variations you can purchase. On the back is some specs related to the Metalen Pro. Take off the sleeve and you’ll see a nice black box with the BASN logo in the center. Take the top off and you’ll see the Metalen Pro staring back at you in all their glory sitting in foam cut-outs. Next to the earphones is another foam cutout which perfectly fits the very nice silver case. Take out the case, open it up and you’ll see two different cables, iem cleaning tool, mmcx tool, ¼” adapter, as well as all the eartips. Really a nice package and more accessories than most iems within the price point. I’ve always felt that BASN has some of the better unboxing experiences for those who spend their hard-earned money on their products. Not many brands understand this but it’s clear that BASN cares about the overall experience for customers.
Eartips
In total BASN provides three different types of eartips and nine pairs of eartips in total. It isn’t every day that a company sends three completely different styles of eartips with their sets. The first set of three tips (S, M, L) are white silicone eartips with a semi-flimsy flange, very comfortable and they have a narrow bore. With these tips I didn’t get a very good seal, but I know plenty of friends who want something a bit less rigid at the flange. The next set of three (S, M, L) are actually triple flange white silicone eartips which are actually nicely made. They aren’t as flimsy and do work quite well. However, they are a hair too intrusive for my ears. Lastly, BASN also added in three pairs (S, M, L) of slow-rise foam tips. Now, I don’t really ever use foams but there are situations where they seem required. However, I did not need them for the Metalen Pro. In fact, I went through a myriad of eartips and while many fit my ears wonderfully (thanks in part to the very ergonomic design of the Metalen Pro), I actually landed on the Dunu S&S tips for this set. Folks, I’m telling you this set was made for these tips. Energy was added where energy could be lifted, the bass seems more defined yet just as robust, the stage adds some depth. I feel a lot had to do with where the S&S tips sit in my ear canal which adds this more dimension filled sound. There were other tips which were very good. Sets like the KBear 07’s, the Tenmak Whirlwind (great wide-bore tips) as well as Divinus Velvet tips. However, the S&S tips really hit the nail on the head for me and my ear anatomy.
Carrying case
BASN also provides a carrying case with the Metalen Pro. For the last two sets they provided one of the best cases I’ve ever seen for a set of iems. That said, the Metalen Pro still has a very nice case. It’s actually difficult to describe. The case I have is silver in color and made out of what I would think is plastic with a cloth zipper region which gives the case some maneuverability. The plastic adds some protection on the top and bottom. However, there is almost like a faux leather covering it, or some coating which feels leathery that covers the plastic. I wish I knew exactly. One thing I’m sure of is that it has a very good “feel” to it. You’ll notice some ribs running lengthwise which is a solid touch along with the BASN logo adorned on the front and centered near the top of the case. The case is a good size too. I’ve used it the last week and I usually never use cases. I was able to fit the Metalen Pro as well as a small dongle dac and some extra tips. It’s a good size and a nice inclusion to the package. BASN doesn’t seem to ever disappoint.
Cables
Once again BASN provides two sets of cables; one for straight up listening and one which has a microphone. Both cables are mmcx cables, so keep that in mind. I know not everyone is keen on mmcx cables. I don’t mind them at all, and they both are obviously quality mmcx connections indicated by the rigidity of the connection. Anyways, the “non-mic” cable is aagain, an mmcx, white, 3.5 single ended silver-plated OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper) cable. The one defining feature of this cable is really the length though. This cable is actually 59 inches in length which is far longer than most cables. I’m sure this is great for studio purposes as well as some stage situations. This isn’t the fattest cable as I’m sure BASN was thinking about weight when deciding what cable to supply with the Metalen Pro. So, it’s more functional than anything. It has a nice braid to it and serves its use case perfectly fine. The next cable is a very nice microphone cable which is obviously also a mmcx cable. It too is white and ends in a 3.5 single ended jack. The mic controller has three buttons which give you certain controls. One thing which I thought was neat was the actual voice quality through this microphone. Better than most sets. I should mention that the ear hooks on both cables are the type which can bend to your liking and hold the shape. I haven’t seen these types in a while, and I don’t mind that at all.
What did I use?
That all said, I didn’t use the included cables for most of my critical listening as I use balanced sources almost entirely. I actually went with a BGVP modular cable similar to the one I used in the BASN BMaster5 Review. The look and aesthetic using this cable is perfect with the Metalen Pro. Silver on mirror polish looks awesome. At any rate, I also feel that the Metalen Pro benefits quite a lot from having more power, which, balanced connections usually provide. So, if you have balanced sources, you may also want to pick up a decent mmcx balanced cable. Just a thought.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
I think it’s pretty obvious that this set is made remarkably well folks. Made entirely out of a mirror polished alloy. Probably stainless steel and absolutely gorgeous. However, we are talking about the build here. Basically, the Metalen Pro is built like a tank. Made of alloy from the nozzles to the mmcx connections and everything in between as BASN most certainly did NOT skimp on quality here. Again, it’s obvious! One of the best built iems under $200 for sure. I see one small vent hole. Nozzles are medium length I’d say with about 6mm wide nozzle ends. The Metalen Pro has a very nice, polished grill, sturdy and well-constructed mmcx connectors too. Honestly, I feel the Metalen Pro won’t let anyone down. Except maybe for those who live in a very humid environment. Those folks will want to pay attention to condensation build up as this is a well-known problem from all metal sets. However, I cannot say a bad word about it. Top class build for sure.
Design
That takes us right into design and aesthetic and let me tell you, this set is striking. Now, the Metalen Pro comes in five different colorways with White, Gloss Black, Brown, Light Blue, and Sapphire. Mine is the Sapphire set and I couldn’t be happier with how it looks folks. BASN polished the Metalen Pro to a mirror finish which catches every light within a room and gleams in my hands. Simply gorgeous. I adore the body style. Those wavy smooth corners are so cool looking. Truly a spectacular design that exudes class and simply looks handsome no matter what way you spin them.
Internals
When trying to figure out what the make-up of the actual driver materials are I couldn’t find a whole lot about them. What I know is that the Metalen Pro incorporates two dynamic drivers and two balanced armature drivers. These are coaxial drivers which helps tremendously with space inside of the acoustic cavity. I know the DD’s are 10mm and I don’t know what type of balanced armature drivers that they use. I can tell you that the BA’s are an array style which means they are coupled together and placed in the nozzle. Usually this is a red flag, but BASN tuned them so well without any real BA timbre at all. So whatever drivers they are using are likely pretty good. When I know more, I will edit this review.
Fit / Comfort / Isolation
The actual fit is so very good for me. I have no idea how well the Metalen Pro is going to fit you, but I have an inkling they will fit the vast majority of hobbyists. It’s simply an ergonomic shape. The way the body/shell curves to the ear is almost perfect. Really a well-designed set in that regard. So, comfort is top notch here. While this set is on the heavier side, I found that the weight is dispersed very well. Basically, I don’t even feel them. Isolation is also better than most sets. The Metalen Pro should be good for stage and studio use due to the good passive isolation. Definitely above average in my opinion.
Drivability / Pairings
The Metalen Pro is rated with an impedance of roughly 18 ohms and a sensitivity of around 102 dbs, plus or minus a couple db’s. Basically, the Metalen Pro is fairly sensitive. Certainly, sensitive enough to drive well from even weaker source devices. Let’s put it this way, if you have a 3.5 jack on your smartphone than you’ll probably be good to go. Definitely not a hard set to drive. Perhaps, slightly less voluminous than some other sets in the price point, but easy enough to drive for most smartphones. Having said that, without question the Metalen Pro scales in fidelity with more power. To clarify, it doesn’t “need” more power, but it does “help” the Metalen Pro a lot to have more output power from your source. There was a definite difference from something like my iPad and something like the EPZ TP50 using balanced on high gain. I feel the balanced armature drivers really began to wake up with more juice along with the DD’s. I do think you need to be reasonable though. Certainly, the Metalen Pro doesn’t need a million watts to bring it to peak fidelity. For instance, listening with a simple dongle dac on balanced was perfectly sufficient for me. That said, most iems are similar in this regard. Add some power and certain areas open up, they sound cleaner, bass tightens up, stage seems to open a bit. Same thing with the Metalen Pro.
Tonal pairing
Now we get to the “highly subjective” portion of my thoughts in the Metalen Pro’s source pairing. Let me just make it easy in you; the Metalen Pro sounds nice with most source tonalities. I have very warm sources, and I have cooler sources, and the Metalen Pro reacts well to both. Lately I’ve had so many of these sets with a warm/neutral sound. I do feel this middle of the road tonality helps to pair with different sources nicely. I think the greater benefit is in the dynamism of your source. For instance, the Shanling H0 was great with the Metalen Pro. It has a CS43198 dac chip and a boat load of output power with a more energetic sound to it. The two paired very well. Or even the dynamic but also warm Shanling M6 Ultra was an awesome pairing. Both have good dynamics. The EPZ TP50 dongle dac was great too. Another energetic dongle dac. It really didn’t matter the actual tonal coloration as much as it did the dynamic qualities of each source. Honestly, there was only a couple that were less than stellar which is saying something pretty special of the Metalen Pro. I have too many sources to list here and it really did react to most very well.
What do you need?
Like I said, you don’t “need” a more powerful source. But you will benefit from having at least a decent Dongle Dac to listen to the Metalen Pro through. There is an ocean of good dongle dacs within the Audioverse at every price point folks. For instance, the EPZ TP20 Pro is a very solid “under $50” option. Or even something like the $100 Shanling H0 as I used quite a lot. Just something that has some nice dynamics, something that’s clean, and something which has some moderate power to it. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as power is concerned but I do think the Metalen Pro is pretty neat in that most any tonal pairing sounds pretty great.
Sound Impressions
Note: I simply want to begin the sound portion of this review by stating that I did in fact burn-in the Metalen Pro for roughly about three full days. I noticed that the tiny bit of sibilance I had gotten from this set straight out of the package was all but gone when those 3 days were up. So whether you believe in it or not, it seemed to help. Also, I critically listen using only flac or better files stored on my devices. All critical listening was done using Dunu S&S eartips and the majority was done listening on balanced with a BGVP modular cable.
Sound
The BASN Metalen Pro has somewhat of a balanced sound with what I’d call a slight V-shaped sound signature. I don’t hear a huge recession in the midrange. In fact, they are almost more along the lines of a U-shaped sound to my ears. So, slight V. I find the Metalen Pro to be warm/neutral in tonal coloration with a smoother demeanor. I’d also say that the Metalen Pro leans musical and melodic over technical yet without completely disregarding the technical side of listening. Really a nice sounding set that should be looked at closer from those who enjoy a more musical sound, more emotionally gratifying. However, in the exact same breath I also hear a decent transient response. I don’t hear anything sluggish or slow and certainly not muddy or veiled. This is a clean sound for the tuning as well as a very coherent sound between drivers. Overall the timbre leans organic coming across more natural than it isn’t. Also, very minimal BA timbre, much less than many sets within the price point. The best way I can say it is that the Metalen Pro is a very pleasant sounding iem and in the same sentence… It’s also a very fun sounding set too which can cover a multitude of genres rather well for the price.
Condensed Sound Between the 20’s
The low-end of the Metalen Pro can dig very deep, it’s pretty heavy but not to a detriment. Enough to sound fun, satisfying and guttural. Attack is slightly softened yet with a dense note body, it’s rigid and weighted and relatively clean for the size while decay is quick enough. The low-end is also quick enough to not sound overtly sloppy and muddy. Now, the midrange is one of my favorite areas. It’s not recessed and dull. Instead, it hovers around warm towards the low-mids and neutral towards the upper-mids. Very nice, lush style note consistency with also nice solidity or rigidity to most notes in the midrange which really does make for great vocals. Now, it isn’t the most detailed set in the world, but also, I’d hate to ruin the musicality of the Metalen Pro’s midrange for a couple small details. That’s not a good trade off. Give me mellifluousness over analytical dryness any day of the week. Then we have the treble region which actually has good extension into the upper treble. I hear a rather detailed treble region while still holding tight to that rich sound. The treble is non-fatiguing, no shrillness, nothing splashy and it comes with adequate brilliance. Enough to offset the lows and create a good balance. Again, details are about average which means… not bad at all. Separation is best when bass heavy tracks aren’t playing, but again, about average. However, Imaging is quite good. Placement of instruments is well done on this set. Lastly, the soundstage has good depth of field to my ears with nice width and height. It’s a full stage. Really a nice sounding set if this falls within your preferences.
Underrated
Honestly, there isn’t a whole lot the Metalen Pro struggles with folks. It’s a nicely tuned iem and in my opinion pretty well underrated. I certainly don’t hear enough folks talking about BASN earphones and I do feel that should change. I know that I’m not the end-all-be-all of earphone reviews, but I have enjoyed every set that they have sent me, and I really mean that. Each is very well tuned and easily competes at their respective price points. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t whole heartedly mean it. BASN is a brand to watch, and the Metalen Pro is just another testament to that. Nice work BASN sound engineers. Nice work BASN designers, and nice work putting a good package together. I had to get that out of the way. Now let’s do a deep dive into each 3rd of the mix.
Bass Region
Without question the first place I listen to in most any review is the bass. I’ll pick a track and look for a few key attributes. One of the most important to me is density, tactility, agility and emphasis. I don’t need a bass banger or anything, but I do need enough low-end to compliment certain instruments and it’s best if the bass serves as that heavy foundation. I like a bass that brings some heft to bass guitars, some snap to drums and boom to kick drums without going too heavy handed. No doubt it’s a fine line but whether you have a heavy bass or a more speedy and punchy bass they can all sound very good if done right per the tuning. It all has to work together. Nothing over emphasizing and nothing under emphasizing the mix. I can say that for sure the Metalen Pro does walk that fine line. It’s definitely not a basshead or bass-boi earphone, but it has enough to really rumble deep and slam good without coming across one-noted. However, it also has enough speed to move in and out of quicker shifts pretty well. It’s agile enough for most tracks which also kind of implies that the bass is clean enough to not make those note outlines murky or blurred. Transient attack through release is just atmospheric enough to come across organic and realistic, but also constrained and compact enough to take in busier tracks. Now, of course the Metalen Pro’s low-end will not agree with everyone. Not everyone yearns for deep and authoritative bass. Also, I said it’s generally not “one-noted” but there are moments in heavy bass jams that you simply cannot get around that. So, keep that in mind. Beyond that… It’s a fun one friends.
Sub-bass
The sub-bass rumbles with good texture and feel. I hear a definite haptic style sub-bass that offers plenty of meaty and bulbous style notes when a track calls for it. It’s the style of a sub-bass that won’t inflict its will and overly influence the rest of the mix causing a hazy image when a track doesn’t call for it. Listening to a track like “Happy Ru Year” by The Game shows off the Metalen Pro’s ability to growl deep with a dark reverberant substantive stoutness. It’s got some nicely concentrated tonnage which plays its part well. Another deep growling track with the Metalen Pro in my ears is “Long Time Gone” by Crosby, Stills & Nash. I adore the Metalen Pro in the way it holds great timbre with the bass guitar whilst still sounding very engaging. There’s this palpable reverb which sounds perfectly authentic to me. As if I’m standing close to the woofer. However, that reverb isn’t muddy. It’s tightly wound. Again, it is not a sloppy bass. It leans on the clean side which is a fine thing to be for a sub-bass. I love that bass guitar has that razor edge to it in some tracks with enough growl & grunt to feel robust yet without ruining the song or feeling too forward. It’s just a nice portion. I don’t really know many other ways to say it. Certainly not perfect for every listening style but if you enjoy some satisfying deep haptic feedback then you’ll very likely enjoy what the Metalen Pro has to offer in this region.
Mid-bass
Now the mid-bass most definitely has the emphasis crown in this bass region. Without a doubt. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen a graph to prove me right on this, but I think it’s pretty clear. The mid-bass slams ya’ll! It’s slaps! Having said that, it once again isn’t like some other sets with this type of replay in that it isn’t murky and doesn’t cause undue veil across the mix. This is huge. So often a veneer of warmth will shroud the midrange casting a wide shadow that influences every area of the frequency on sets with a heavier mid-bass approach. In the same breath, I’d also say that the Metalen Pro’s mid-bass does in fact “impact” the midrange. Yet in a complimentary way adding weight and note body with just the right amount of warmth while carrying a textured approach.
Mid-bass cont…
Now, the Metalen Pro can definitely boom. I get that from the track “Billie Jean” by Weezer. One of my favorite tracks to clearly hear individual kick drumbeats. I can easily hear cleanliness of the note outline, hardness or density, impact & punch, along with resonance. Really a great track to use to quickly and easily test out your earphones. Also, the beat hits right away so you aren’t waiting. I look for songs like that. At any rate, the Metalen Pro hits fast, hits hard and does so with a clean-lined note outline. It has the tacky initial snap on attack. That viscid and resinous “pap”. Like all good kick drum replays the Metalen Pro also carries the thunderous hollow boom. There’s weight, substance, but also a firmness to it. Again, not sloppy. The same goes for bass drops, synth beats, double bass, bass vocalists etc. I basically want to get across that this is a fun sound yet also a mature sound in relation to that fun and heavy nature. Also, the timbre is great. Be that as it may, it isn’t the most hard-edged sound. There is a hint of fuzz at times, which is pretty normal. Certainly not pillowy or soft edged though. I’ll use my constant ridiculous analogy of a hammer wrapped in a sock for this one. The best part is the density of each note in this region. Yet when all is said and done, the Metalen Pro has a big and foundational mid-bass which is basically the focus of this iem for me. It’s nice for what it is.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The obvious downside is for those who don’t enjoy a more emphasized and “foundational” low-end. Many people don’t like a bass region which enforces its influence on different areas of the mix. So many people want fast and snappy, or dexterous and punchy. They want lean, deft, and textured. Heck, some of you don’t want any bass emphasis, or as little as is necessary. I’d also say that for anyone who enjoys a bass which doesn’t encroach at all into the midrange leaving it crystal clear will probably not enjoy the Metalen Pro’s approach. The bass definitely carries straight into the midrange as it’s easy to hear and recognize. There is a definite warmth and body that’s unmistakable. This is not the type of bass which plateaus or flattens out before 300hz. Based on what I hear it must cascade in a wide arch into the mids. Having said that, you aren’t going to have those ultra clean mids. Again, this set leans heavily on the musicality side of casual listening. Warm, emotionally charged and engaging. I could also say that the bass isn’t the most defined low-end in the Audioverse. Yes, there is good note definition for what it is, but it simply isn’t tuned to compete in that regard. So, know what you are getting. With all that said, I think it’s great. It’s a very nice change of pace type of sound that is very gratifying and enjoyable for long periods of time.
Midrange
Now we get to the midrange. The first words which spring to mind regarding the mids on the Metalen Pro are smooth, syrup, lush, bodied and inviting. It’s an engaging sound. Again, very musically proficient with just enough macro-dynamics to bring some energy or glitter to that lush display. This is not an analytical sound at all. Not a dry note on this set and it laughs at the word “thin”. These are not thin notes folks. Each note has that good density, some mass, some bravado and authority. Especially in the low mids. Beyond the note structure, the actual emphasis places the midrange in a nice area of the sound field. I don’t feel they are pushed too far back. Vocals have “presence” and instrumentation has enough borrowed snap energy from the treble to aid percussion, strings, etc. decently well. Of course, you have to take into consideration the tuning here. When I say “snap”, I mean “some snap”. Not “snappy”. There’s a difference. There’s good energy in relation to the overarching tuning. It’s a good midrange that’s really nice for vocalists. If you enjoy vocals with some gusto, with some penetrative intonations, highlighted notes without the gaudy forced glare of an exaggerated pinna rise. Everything is kept in check. However, make no mistake… this is without question a specific flavor. You have to understand that before you hit the “buy now” button and I’m trying my best to explain. I don’t always do a good job of that… but I’m certainly trying.
Midrange Technicalities
Like any musically gifted iem, the Metalen Pro will not be the last word on technical abilities. Don’t get me wrong I still feel the Metalen Pro does a good job of bringing out the subtleties. It isn’t veiled or congested. Yet it also isn’t tuned to bring out all the micro-dynamic minutiae quite like some iems. Like I said, the bass doesn’t flatten out before 300hz which does push that weight into the mids ultimately compacting those notes, moving them closer together, which comes across as less airy, less separated to a degree. But everything is a give and take, a push and pull, if one end of the scale drops, the other side rises. What BASN did was tune in some balance which the Metalen Pro gets from the lift of the treble region. Certainly, a V-shaped sound in that regard. Again, a fine line to walk and you’re playing in dangerous territory driving the low-end so far into the mids. Still, we’ve seen tunings like this hundreds of times in the past and rarely do they sound as nice and dynamically balanced as the Metalen Pro. So not the best in the technical aspect, but also far from the worst. I repeat, about average. But I’ll also repeat that average is good.
Lower-midrange
It’s the lower-mids which mostly feel the weight of the low-end and in this case are enriched by the low-end without casting the doomed veil. Perhaps an acquired taste for some, but tuned well enough that most folks can certainly get with the idea behind this tuning. It’s really nice for male vocalists. I find the weight and note body almost adds some dimension to male singers. Tracks like “Higher” by Chris Stapleton are a perfect example of this. Chris’s vocals have that nicely tailored note mass yet with a refined presence. Some sets can exaggerate the crest of his notes. Sometimes there is a little extra fuzz, grain, and edginess. Not all the time but it is something I notice. He has an edgy voice, raspy at times, the best kind of abrasiveness if you ask me. What the Metalen Pro won’t do is add any more edge to that edgy voice. I don’t hear an even-more knife-edged or coarse inflection to his voice, which is something I do look for. This makes it sound somewhat more authentic, maybe more earthy. Less crisp and less pin-point defined, but more melodic too. Another thing which stands out a bit in this area is that males do have a more authoritative sound than some other sets. Male voices have some plumpness, they are more robust, but they also keep a solid timbre. There is some energy and vibrance there so that males don’t simply come across as dull. So males on the Metalen Pro are nice to my ears and I think some of you will enjoy them too.
Upper-Midrange
Now, the upper midrange does have quite a bit more energy, vibrance, yet it does so under the umbrella of slightly thicker note weight. I could call it “creamy-energetic”, is that a thing? Don’t answer that. Forgive me, it’s been a long day of work today so bear with me. Anyways, the upper mids have just enough of a rise to bring upon some good macro-dynamic energy and great immersive qualities coupled with some slightly thicker note weight. Those two attributes really do help to uplift and add body to female vocalists, piano, violin and about 50 other instruments. However, when I think upper midrange the first place my mind goes to is female vocalists. I have many female vocalists in my Playlists and to me it’s a priority to a degree. Having said that, in the price point there are most certainly iems which display the upper-mids even more forward leaning or mid-centric, but those sets also have other issues which arise in the process. What I enjoy about the Metalen Pro is that it brings it all together in a stomachable form and without sibilance, shout, glare, or any highly noticeable BA timbre. There is some, but it isn’t anything I’d label as a con, and again, many sets with balanced armature drivers have at least some measures of what we refer to as “BA Timbre”.
Upper-Midrange cont…
Now, speaking of females, the Metalen Pro has very nice timbre. It’s smooth, neutral-ish, pretty clean and females sound pretty resounding when needed. Just a nice sound altogether for female vocalists. Nothing jagged, glaring, or too shouty. However, females also have decent note body which is nice to hear as well. Vocalists like Lady Gaga in “Always Remember Us This Way” come through crystal clear with smooth intonations and with some authority to her voice. She goes from feather soft to emotionally sonorous very well. There’s emotion in this song which helps to be portrayed in an emotional way. The instrumentation comes through well separated and delineated too. Another female voice is “Skeletons” by Suzannah. I love the country west style music playing along with her silky voice. The Metalen Pro helps so very much to depict the mood of the song. That strumming guitar has that subtly abrasive goodness and nice secondary harmonics as well. I really can’t say anything bad about this region, especially for the price.
Downsides to the Midrange
There’re a few subjective preferential dislikes some hobbyists may have. Of course, not everyone desires a rich and weighted delivery or a slightly. I know way too many folks who desire something brighter, analytical and neutral. Not necessarily “thin” note weight, but “thinner”, faster transients, more pep, more energy towards the upper mids or even cleaner mids. There are certainly a bunch of sets that fit those criteria quite well. It’s just the nature of the game. Not everyone enjoys a smooth and pleasant sound, but instead may want the extra airiness, the glass lined separation, the fine-lined details. It’s simply a preference thing. Some reviewers will actually call a “thing” bad because it doesn’t fit their personal criteria. But… does that really make it “bad”? I’ll answer that, no it doesn’t. We have preferences, which just so happens to be what makes this a great hobby to be involved with. That all said, I thoroughly enjoy the Metalen Pro’s midrange. I suppose in a perfect world I’d like a hair more air, maybe a titch more separation. However, the Metalen Pro does so many things well for what it is. No, it doesn’t have top notch transient swiftness, or best in class separation and detail retrieval. And no, it isn’t the last word in technical ability, but you know what… It’s still very good in those areas for what it is. Add in the nice note weight, non-offensive sound and the great musicality and you have yourself a fine midrange. Or a very nice “part” to a very solid “whole”. It’s dynamic, engaging, and fun with a midrange that isn’t really recessed and good note definition and clarity.
Treble Region
This brings us to the treble region which has this secret vibrance and energy to it that can sneak up on you. It’s enough to add some excitement, yet in a not-so-obvious manner. The overall sound is more controlled, decently balanced and a slightly warm musical sound that defines this set. However, don’t be surprised when the treble adds some tinsel to your cymbals or some lustrous brilliance that only makes its presence felt when a track calls for it. What I mean is that the treble region is not one to enforce its will upon the rest of the mix. It has spikes of energy. Not enough to create an analytical style airy atmosphere per se, but enough to bring upon some levity and dynamism to certain regions. Also, it’s emphasized enough to counter the bass emphasis. Enough treble output to add some snap to percussion, some silvery glitter to violin, some sheen to piano harmonics. Basically, I feel it’s enough to add some gloss where it needs to without becoming a detriment or too vigorous. Undoubtedly BASN didn’t add any forced resolution on this set. To me the Metalen Pro’s tuning feels very purposeful and I’d venture to say that BASN hit the target they were shooting for.
Relaxed with some sparkle
As far as the actual sound of the treble, I’d say it comes across as a nice mix of smooth and crisp with a hair more influence from the former. It’s non-offending in that you won’t hear any shrillness or splashiness and you won’t get any headaches from too much aggressiveness up top. Treble notes on the Metalen Pro do have some bite though, and it isn’t devoid of snap or sparkle. The sparkle is certainly there but it isn’t a focal point like a more forward treble region. The treble has good clarity, solid note definition, and some luminance without sounding fatiguing which is great for longer listening sessions and I don’t feel that treble sensitive folks will have too much of an issue with this treble either. BASN really did add just enough. Now that I’ve beat that horse to death it’ll help me explain the actual texture a hair better. Don’t expect some EST type treble with loads of haptic treble feedback. Don’t expect that. Expect something with a smooth body and good micro definition at the crest of notes. To be totally honest, I’m really splitting hairs here. I think the best way to describe the treble is relaxed with some sparkle.
Extension is also surprisingly nice on the Metalen Pro as well. The secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike don’t have that splash to them. I don’t really hear any undue treble sheen which would create odd timbre moments up top. Actually, I’d once again say that the control is very good, even at the furthest most points of the supposed frequency range. So, extension up top is nice and I feel that it does add some width to the overall sound stage as well as a hair of extra dimension to the sound too.
Fairly speedy
Lastly, the treble is not slow. This isn’t a treble that is going to sound overly congested. To me the treble has good enough note contour and treble separation for each note to sound pretty distinct. Add to that the BA driver’s ability to attack and then recover while never coming across too congested in this area. Tracks like Jean Michel Jarre’s track “Magnetic Fields, Pt. 1” which carries a slew of treble activity coming at you with very fast speed at times. Really a nice track simply for testing your earphones. The Metalen Pro provides nicely rounded notes for the price with even some good layering while never coming across as some mishmash of treble sheen. It takes complicated tracks better than I would’ve guessed. Detail retrieval is also fairly nice up top as well. Of course I don’t want you all expecting some detail marvel, but overall, the treble is very clean for a smoother style upper region.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I feel the real downside would be from treble heads or even moderate treble heads. Those who cannot get enough of good and biting treble with loads of emphasis. Those folks probably won’t spend too much time with the Metalen Pro in their ears. I suppose one also might enjoy a hair more treble punch and contoured edge to their treble with a little more haptic feedback. However, considering the overall tuning I feel that BASN did a fine job crafting a treble that is both energetic enough while never sounding too offensive. I enjoy it.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The Metalen Pro had a soundstage which is probably about average in width, maybe just above average depending on who you ask. Height is also pretty full too. Having said that, I do like that there’s some depth of field with the Metalen Pro. This adds some layering ability which is always a bonus on any set. One thing I can say is that the soundstage rarely sounds too congested. Despite that last sentence though, on more congested and complicated tracks it should be expected that things get a hair more mushed together. As with most sets in the price point. It’s actually kind of hard to get around. Also, in bass dominant songs you may hear a slight bit of expected masking going on. Again, many iems with heavier bass replays come across in this way. All in all, the soundstage is nice.
Separation / Imaging
Separation of instruments is good. Certainly not a strong suit of the Metalen Pro, but good enough to not come across overly congested or blurred. There are plenty of iems which excel in this area but those sets also specialize in certain technical aspects of the sound. I would say that in less complicated tracks those fine lines create an easier mental image of instrument separation, which is a pretty obvious statement. Obviously with more complicated tracks, more moving parts, or more dominant bass tracks you won’t have as much perceptible precision. Imaging however is really nice but with one caveat. That is, if there isn’t a heavy presence of bass. Even with that the Metalen Pro still does a decent job of rendering nice placement of the stage, but the bass can mask the sound field a bit at times. I realize that nothing I’m saying is earth shattering and many iems have the same issues. However, it is worth noting. Other than that, Imaging is basically spot on with my sources.
Detail Retrieval
Detail Retrieval follows the same patterns as separation in that it isn’t a strong suit yet in the same breath details emerge fairly well. Different tracks will render slightly different results. Certainly, don’t expect a detail king. Don’t do that because I’m not saying that. This is normally the case when you have a musicality first iem with thicker note weight. When notes hit your ear sounding rich it naturally makes things sound a hint less separated and details aren’t quite as easy to pick out. I will say it again though, I wouldn’t really change much of anything because what the Metalen Pro is is a very fun and melodic sound with very nice e dynamics and nothing which seeks to offend. With all that said, I’d say that detail retrieval is still at least average with what is on the market. At least that I’ve heard. Obviously, I haven’t heard everything, but I can’t imagine my opinion would change all that much. Also, average is a good thing, that means it isn’t bad. Furthermore, you aren’t going to be missing much with the Metalen Pro folks. I still hear the breath in mics on less complicated songs or the finger slides, plucks, and different harmonics come through nicely too. Of course, there are iems that are literally tuned to bring details to the surface. They are crafted and created with more air to the sound, less lushness, more top energy, quicker transient agility, less harmonics stealing focus. And I know I’ve beat this horse to death but… I wouldn’t change anything on this set if it meant scaling back on its musical sound. I feel that is most important for the casual listener and makes for an enjoyable session.
Is it worth the asking price?
The $129 question; is the BASN Metalen Pro worth the money that BASN feels it is worth? Folks, this is a 2DD and 2BA iem sitting square in the middle of one of the more difficult price points for any iem. All I can do is answer for me. Now, I made a review of this set and so you know I enjoy it. If you’ve read any of my reviews, then you should know that I don’t waste my time on sets or audio devices that I don’t like or at least a healthy population of hobbyists don’t like. So right there you know I enjoy it. However, that doesn’t mean it’s at a good price. That doesn’t mean it’s priced well against the current market. Look at some of the iems in the price point. Let’s say $100 to $150. Look at the iems! It is absolutely stacked with sets. I don’t have the patience to list them all out and I don’t want to waste the digital ink on it but trust me… there’s a lot. I mean, for $20 more you can get the Simgot SuperMix4 (Supermix4 Review). It’s a tough place to play ball in.
Has to align with you…
That all said, I find no reason why the Metalen Pro wouldn’t be at a good price for what you are getting. Of course, the sound signature has to align with your personal preference. Let’s just get that out of the way. You wouldn’t feel this set is worth $20 if it didn’t align with you. However, if you enjoy a slightly warm, rich, milky sound with great deep bass, velvet vocals and a nicely energized treble that won’t kill your ears then I’d say $129 is well worth the price. Speaking for me, I’d say… without question the Metalen Pro is worth it.
The Why…
Because you get a very good package of accessories. You have everything you need with BASN folks. They always put a very good unboxing together. Next, my word look at this build. It is the definition of “built like a tank”. Absolutely gorgeous too. That mirror polish is almost addicting for me. It’s beautiful. The shape is so unique, and the fit is like it’s hugging my ears. I’m actually wondering who snuck into my bedroom at night and took a mold of my ear, it’s that good for me. Very comfortable.
Always comes down to the sound
Yet always it’s the sound which compels my thoughts. It’s the comfort of a good sound, a fun sound, a sound that draws out emotion from different artists. It is so nice to have an iem that aids the story telling of a band, a vocalist, and helps to portray the mood of a track. It’s very nice. Couple that with the fact that the Metalen Pro is actually a fun listen. You have deep, penetrating lows and a tight slam relative to the quantity BASN tuned the Metalen Pro with. Next the midrange offers a rich and smooth sound that has good presence against the rest of the mix. Vocals are actually quite nice. On top of that I enjoy the nicely dynamic sound within the warmer canopy. Also, the treble comes across with enough energy to add some brilliance and levity to the mix but not enough to fatigue the listener. It’s a smooth sounding treble with just enough crispness. Technically the Metalen Pro is great for a musical sounding set. Good depth to the stage too and a non-congested stage. Really a nice sounding iem that stands very well against all of the other iems within the price point in my opinion.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the BASN Metalen Pro I first want to thank the awesome folks over at BASN Audio. Always extremely helpful, always kind and very easy to work with. It has been another very fun review period which has prompted me to begin really speaking on this brand. Folks, I’m 3 for 3 with BASN products. Really a very well running machine over there. So, thank you BASN for being upright and thank you for sending over the Metalen Pro for a feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. Also, I want to thank you for reading this review. It means the world to myself and to my partners that you click the link and spend some time reading. Our website is really doing well and we couldnt thank you all enough for trusting our opinion and checking all of the latest content. Really, it is our greatest pleasure to write these reviews and share them with you. Hey, maybe they will actually help you one way or another in making a purchasing decision. Thank you!
Other Perspectives
Now that I’ve thanked you and you are basically done reading this feature review, I have to ask that you now go and check out other thoughts of the BASN Metalen Pro. We are all very much different and we each carry our own specific ideals of what “good sound” should be. Well, or “bad sound” I suppose too. At any rate, it would behoove you to read, listen to, or watch other opinions of this set. No two of us are alike my friends. So please take some time to check out other perspectives. Beyond all of that I think I’m done folks. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always…God Bless!
