Hiby Yacht 10 Review
Intro
Hello, this review and feature covers the latest brand new iem from the very popular audio brand Hiby Audio named the Hiby Yacht 10 ($129). As I await the Yacht 10’s arrival, I can’t help but wonder what Hiby has up its sleeve with this one. One thing is for sure, I have a good feeling about it. Reading Hiby’s promotional material I can see that the Yacht 10 is part of the brand’s new series of iems under the concept of “Voyage & Discovery”. Which could take this series into a whole range of designs, styles, and directions. Voyage and Discovery are some fairly broad words which set up Hiby really well to come up with all sorts of creative future products. Now, the Yacht 10 is actually a single dynamic driver earphone with a rather unique driver and as far as I can tell the Yacht 10 also has a very unique design as well. In fact, the design theme is very similar to another one of Hiby’s products, the Hiby R4 dap. No doubt the trademark cyber-punk character of the R4 is clearly represented on the Yacht 10. Which is cool to see.
Hiby
Hiby was actually founded way back in 2011 which honestly came as a surprise to me. I certainly didn’t know that Hiby was close to 15 years within the industry. You can see the Hiby trademark all throughout the marketplace as well. Whether it be through their very own Hiby OS which is used constantly by other manufacturers looking for an easy to use, easy to navigate, and sophisticated software for their own players, or their many dac/amps, daps, and in-ear monitors. Hiby has won so many awards that listing them here would read like a passage from Leviticus. Basically, we’d both be bored. However, just to bring everyone up to speed, Hiby is kind of a big deal (insert “Anchorman” meme here). Seriously though, it’s hard not to be impressed with the Hiby repertoire and all that they’ve accomplished in a relatively short period of time. Granted, in the audio world 14 years is closer to eternity than anything else. They’ve made so many award-winning daps and their fingerprint is literally everywhere within the Audioverse. Hiby also has their own sub-brands in Hiby Music and Hiby Digital and both are very successful.
Reviews
I personally have reviewed a few Hiby products. Each one I ranked fairly high on my list against other similar products within their respective price points. Those products being the Hiby Zeta (Zeta Review) which is one of the best kilo-buck multi-driver EST sets that my ears have heard. Also, the Hiby R3 II (R3 II Review) is a dap I reviewed last year which truly competes against any and all daps within the range. I reviewed the all-BA iem, the Hiby Yvain (Yvain Review) which is to me one of the best all balanced armature earphones for vocalists and midrange listening within its price point. Really a special and underrated iem. Last year I also reviewed the Hiby R6 Pro 2 (R6 Pro 2 Review) and it quite literally is one of the best under $1k daps on the market. Lastly, I published a review for the Hiby Digital Xeno (Xeno Review) and folks let me just tell you now, the Xeno is one of the better type-c DSP type in-ear on the market below a certain price. Beyond that, my partners at mobileaudiophile.com have also reviewed a number of Hiby products. The point is that Hiby really does make quality products. Sure, they’ve had some lemons, as with any brand, but those are very few and far in between.
Nice 1st impression
I just received the Yacht 10 today and I was instantly pleased with its natural sound, the fit, and the look is exactly as I thought. Very cool. Perhaps the treble was a hair edgy, but everything else is wonderful. I’m sure burn-in will help though. However, good or not, at $129 the Yacht 10’s truest downside is not any fault of its own, not a defect, or a tuning issue, and certainly no fault of Hiby. The biggest downside happens to be the lot of iems with which it battles against for relevance within its own price point. I have yet to compare anything at this point and in fact I’ve only been able to casually listen to the Yacht 10. I’ll give it some burn-in for a few days and then it’s critical listening time. We shall see where the Yacht 10 stands against the competition from my perspective. Well, with that said, I think I’m ready to get into this review folks. I’ll see you in about four days. Without further ado, the Hiby Yacht 10 everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:
Disclaimer:
I received the Hiby Yacht 10 from Hiby Audio as a review sample. In exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. Hiby Audio has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Hiby Audio, and thanks for reading.
Yacht 10 Pros
-Extremely well built, CNC carved Alloy
-Design is flat-out dope (mecha cyber-punk style)
-One of the most comfortable iems in my collection, very ergonomic
-High quality drivers
-Great unboxing for the cost
-Nice functional coaxial OCC modular cable and stylish carrying case
-Well balanced sound
-Great timbre, natural
-Speedy, clean bass
-Midrange is nicely melodic, great clarity
-Treble details, nice brilliance
-Imaging is very nice
-Very full soundstage
Yacht 10 Cons
-Design may also be a con. Not everyone likes cyber-punk styling
-Also, the cable may be a con to some folks. This is not some fatty-fat cable
-Fans of bigger bass won’t enjoy the Yacht 10
-Warm, rich lovers will want to keep looking
-Upper-mids can get a hair hot (only for very sensitive folks)
-Treble can come across edgy prior to burn-in
Gear used for testing
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The Yacht 10 arrived at my home in a nicely sized rectangular box with a pretty cool looking sleeve covering the actual box. The sleeve is light gray with a line drawing of the Yacht 10 as well as the name “Yacht 10” on the cover. On the back is some specs. Take off the sleeve and you are met with a classy looking black box with bright orange lettering which also says the name “Yacht 10”. Open the box and you’ll see the Yacht 10 earphones sitting gloriously within some foam cut-outs. Next to the earphones is the gorgeous black faux leather carrying case. Under the foam which the Yacht 10 sits in is a box which has some reading material. Under that box is a small case which houses the Yacht 10’s eartips. Inside of the carrying case is the Hiby Cu4 cable as well as the modular plug adapters and an iem cleaning tool. Folks, this is a very nice unboxing for $129. I know I breeze through the “unboxing” section, but Hiby did a very nice job making it a cool experience.
Some additions
It should be noted that you also have a few options at Purchasing for a couple other Hiby accessories. Those accessories include three pairs of Hiby’s amazing WG01 eartips. Adding the WG01 tips makes the price go up $10. Folks I cannot begin to tell you how amazing these tips are. They are now in my top three… easily. They are amazing crystal-clear tips with actual good firmness of the flange with good rigidity. However, what’s best is they are the type of silicone rubber which is ridiculously sticky. They seal amazingly in my ears. I absolutely love the WG01 eartips. Easily worth the extra $10. You can also add in an awesome feature for use with the Hiby Cu4 modular cable. That feature is the Hiby HC1 type-c DSP cable adapter which simply plugs/screws on the end of the Cu4 cable similar to all the other adapters. The HC1 adapter is only an extra $20 and in my opinion 100% worth that investment. Truly a very nice sounding unit. It has an automatic matching 8–100-ohm impedance along with 32bit/384khz PCM audio, with a dynamic range of 120dbs. Distortion is as low as 0.00018%, which is not bad at all. I don’t know what dac the HC1 uses, or the actual output power. However, it drives sensitive earphones very well with a lot of headroom and sounds natural too. Both are pretty solid additions for not a lot more money. All based on your needs.
Eartips
The provided eartips which come with the Hiby Yacht 10 are pretty darn nice. In fact, the silicone tips provided are eerily similar to the white silicone black stem eartips which come with many Letshuoer earphones. At any rate, the eartips come in a small black plastic case which houses the eartips. Hiby provides three pairs (S, M, L) of white silicone eartips with a black stem. Very nice tips and very close to KBear 07 tips in almost every way. They are semi-wide bore tips and very nice. Hiby also added in three pairs (S, M, L) of slow-rise foam eartips with colored stems. I personally don’t enjoy foam tips and only use them, when necessary, but they’re nice enough, nonetheless. Six pairs of tips over two different style tips is a nice addition to the unboxing experience. The holder is a nice touch. Now, like I wrote a moment ago, you can order the WG01 eartips as well at purchasing. Thankfully, Hiby added some of the WG01 tips in what they provided me, and I am so impressed. I am very thankful because I adore the WG01. Again, sticky, clear, cool looking, and more of a wide bore. If I didn’t have the WG01 eartips I would’ve been more than happy with the white silicone tips provided. Not bad at all Hiby.
Carrying Case
Hiby also added into the packaging a very nice carrying case. It is a mostly black faux leather case (I think) with some nice-looking bright orange stitching and open, closes and is held closed with a magnetic flap. I love the size of this thing. Hiby provides a nice sectional piece to put on the inside of the case to give stuff like tips, modular adapters, etc. a compartment to house them. It’s a very large case which can easily house two sets of earphones if you’d like. Or it is plenty large enough to hold your earphones, the cable, the adapters, some eartips, and a dongle dac. The inside of the case had a very soft felt covering covering everything. This is great for your earphones so to not get them all scratched up or anything like that. I love the orange stitching as it’s a very nice aesthetic contrast in color. Just a solid inclusion that I was happy enough to see added.
Cable
Like I said earlier, Hiby provides their own Hiby Cu4 ($49) modular cable for use with the Yacht 10. The Cu4 is not a super fat cable and doesn’t appear ultra luxurious. That is until you use it. You see, the Yacht 10’s are not a heavy set of earphones and so logically Hiby decided to use a less heavy cable which is just as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. Braided using a Litz type 4 construction the Cu4 is a very nice-looking cable. Again, not fat and plump like I tend to enjoy. However, it is evident when using that you wouldn’t want some super heavy and fat cable with the Yacht 10. You don’t want anything tugging at them when they’re in your ears. To be exact, the Cu4 is a nice brown colored 2-pin, coaxial single crystal copper (OCC) cable which terminates in Hiby’s 4-pin lock adapter system. Like I said, it is a modular design which allows the listener to swap out jacks whenever necessary. Hiby provides both the 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced adapters in the packaging. I really like this one – pin lock system as it works extremely well. You simply pick your adapter, line up the white arrows, push the adapter in, and then screw on the flange over the connection. Simple as that, doesn’t go anywhere, very secure. Folks, this is such a nice and functionally appropriate cable for this set. It is also a very nice fully copper cable that pairs very well “sonically” with the Yacht 10. Truly a nice addition in my opinion.
Build / Design / Internals /Fit
Build Quality
The build quality of the Hiby Yacht 10 is top notch folks. Made entirely out of CNC carved out of T6063 high-graded aluminum which is known for its high elasticity and durability along with the great corrosion resistance of aluminum. Very well-built folks! It has very bold and distinct lines, clean all the way around and fairly small. Also, the Yacht 10 is very ergonomic. The nozzles don’t reach super deep into your ears either and so finding the right tips is a must. Well, that’s always a must. At any rate, the comfort is through the roof awesome for me. Really a very well-built set that doesn’t appear that it would be the comfiest on planet earth. However, I can tell you that it’s one of the most comfortable earphones that I’ve used. Built into the housing internally is an L.S.W (low-standing-wave) rear internal chamber which regulates the internal and external airflow which helps tremendously with the dynamics of sound produced by the dynamic driver. I just can’t say enough good things about thi build. The Yacht 10 is small and very lightweight which makes it a joy to wear for hours. Again, A+ from me.
Design
The design of the Yacht 10 is probably not going to be everyone’s favorite. Like I said earlier, Hiby copied the cyber-punk styling of the Hiby R4 dap to outfit the Yacht 10 with and I gotta say… I’m more than okay with it. Usually, I like a more reserved design, more minimalist, classy, and elegant or regal. However, I can’t say I don’t think this set looks absolutely baller. The entire body and faceplate are made of aluminum; however, the shell is colored gray while the faceplates are a hot orange color. The Yacht 10 has almost polygonal lines carved into its raised faceplates which gives off the feeling of depth. Not to mention the fake usb-c style vent which appears to have all the innards of a female usb-c port. It’s simply cool. I don’t know how else to say it. Also, yes, I know that some of you don’t like it. I get that. Still, I think it’s fairly evident that the design will be loved by the great majority of people.
Internals
Hiby Audio decided to employ a single 10 mm Magnesium-Aluminum Dome Dynamic Driver with a Polymer Diaphragm for use with the Hiby Yacht 10. This driver has 1.2 tesla magnetic flux with a dual magnetic core with high-tensions CCAW coils, sitting pretty inside of a dual acoustic chamber. Furthermore, Hiby fine-tuned and reimagined the Yacht 10’s airflow of the LSW (low-standings wave) metal rear chamber. This is said to dial in the airflow and air intake internally so to improve dynamics, naturalness, etc. Hiby’s outlook with the “Voyage & Discovery” theme is to try out different driver materials in hopes of offering diversity of sound to the consumer. I don’t know about ya’ll, but I think it’s a novel idea. Who else is trying to discover different driver materials? Thanks, Hiby.
Fit / Comfort
I’ve already spoken of how well the Yacht 10 fits my ears. They are nothing short of perfect. It has to be the shape which quite literally sits perfectly inside my outer ear. Very snug. Once I found the right tips (Hiby WG01 medium tips) and my deal was good they became wonderful for my ears. Like they grew there. I have no idea if the Yacht 10 will fit your ears, however. Obviously, we are all very much different in our ear anatomy and so I cannot sit here and say that this wonderful fit will be the same for you. That said, the Yacht 10 is very light, not chunky, and the cable is very slim which correlates to a very light set of earphones. Really a comfortable iem.
Drivability / Pairings
Output Power
The Hiby Yacht 10 is rated with an impedance of right around 24 ohms as well as a sensitivity of about 95 db’s @ 1khz. You’d think that the low sensitivity would mean that the Yacht 10 is difficult to drive, but I found that this set does at least decent with lesser powerful source devices. I wouldn’t say the Yacht 10 is “hard to drive”, but I would most certainly tell you, with conviction, that the Yacht 10 definitely scales with power. This Titanium DLC wants some juice folks! I used high gain on all dongle dacs and I used medium to high gain on all my 1-watt daps. Definitely, this set performs best when the driver is pushed, and it does so in a very convincing manner. In fact, I’d say it’s enough to say that the Yacht 10 came alive with more power. I don’t think you need some huge power supply for the Yacht 10, however. For instance, high gain with the EPZ TP50 was more than enough. Hopefully that helps.
Source Pairing
As far as pairing the Yacht 10 I really didn’t see a problem with most of my sources that I have on hand to test with. The Yacht 10 comes across warm/neutral which sits right in the middle of the road as far as tonality goes. What this means is that it actually adapts quite well to most source tonalities. Granted, everything comes down to your tastes, and whatever sources that you have on hand. Not everyone has enough money to burn to simply go out and get another source. Thankfully, I tried straight warm devices, dead neutral devices and everything in between. The only source tonality that I felt was too much was with colder/brighter sources. My Shanling M6 Ultra is on the warmer side and it is so nice for me that I hardly could peel them out of my ears and into another device. That said, my neutral iBasso DX240 is flat out awesome with this set too. Folks, I truly don’t feel that the tonality of the Yacht 10 presents many pairing issues.
What do you need?
In truth, I shouldn’t say “What do you NEED?”. I have zero idea who is reading this and what your preferences are. For me, I don’t enjoy brighter sources with this set, but maybe you are a diehard treble bro who detest warmth. I don’t know. So, I feel that it is probably best for the great majority of listeners to use an almost neutral source with a touch of warmth and some solid power output. To me the Yacht 10 shows its true colors with more power and so long as you have a decent Dongle Dac you should be good to go.
Sound Impressions
*Note: before I get into the sound portion of this review, I should note that I did burn-in the Hiby Yacht 10 for around 3.5 days. To be 100% honest, there was a huge change in the treble region. It went from edgy and almost grainy, to smooth and easy. For best results, l feel the Yacht 10 should have at least a couple days of burn-in or listen-in before judgment is passed. I listen mainly to flac or better files which are stored on my devices and very minimal streaming. Also, I mostly use UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as my Android music player on every source device as well as Hiby Music Player. For some Bluetooth listening I use Poweramp.
How does it sound?
In my opinion the Hiby Yacht 10 has a very mature, very fluid, and very rhythmic sound. This is not one which will rumble in the deepest depths, nor does it have outstanding upper region brilliance full of resplendently bright energy. To my ears, the Hiby Yacht 10 is pretty well balanced actually. There’s plenty of low-end warmth (6-7 dB bass shelf) which cascades enough to add a slight warm misting across the mix while the greatest dynamic peak is established roughly around the upper midrange and lower treble regions (7-8 dB pinna rise). However, the bass shelf doesn’t flatten until roughly about 650hz and so you do hear some added low-end weight to the sound without it coming across muddy whatsoever. In fact, to me the sound of the Hiby Yacht 10 is very clean across the board. Also highly controlled, with some very nice and naturally toned timbre. Really a well-tuned iem with some subjective issues which some folks may have.
Balancing Act
If I were to label the Yacht 10 as any one sound-sig, I’d say it has a W-shaped sound signature with a focus on the midrange. Without question the mids sound forward to my ears without coming across too close to the listener within the sound field. Fantastic for vocalists. Perhaps a hair closer than some instrumentation, but very pleasant, very dulcet, very sweet-toned. The sound has thee slightest tinges of subtle warmth to an otherwise neutrally tuned set. Enough to give-off some well-defined rumble and slam at moderate levels. As you move your way up the frequency there is some vibrant energy which interfuses or blends in some nuance illuminating brilliance to the equation. If I would use three words to describe the Yacht 10, they’d be unblemished, harmonious, and balanced. Like I said, this is not some bulbous bass head set which will rattle your eyelids off. In the same breath, the Yacht 10 also isn’t a set which provides ample amounts of lustrous shine to the top end. I hear some fast, tight and solid rumble down low, as well as some nice sparkle & some shimmer too up top without it going harsh. There’s a balancing act happening with a slight lean to the right. A touch more vitality around the upper-mids which really does draw that region closer to the listener. However, I also don’t hear any blatant drawbacks from this closer midrange presentation. Hiby really did a wonderful job of tuning this set. However, I know many people who simply don’t want a mid-focus. Nothing is for everyone.
That timbre
The beautiful thing is that the timbre is always a very well mixed and a nicely synchronous display of both a musical tunefulness and a revelatory or analytical sound. Though I’d never say it’s flat-out clinical, and I’d never say it’s the definition of musicality either. It’s somewhere in-between. Similar to another awesome single DD, the Fiio FD15 (FD15 Review), yet with a touch more of an ardor style vigor. Same wonderful clean and clear timbre. The Yacht 10 certainly has a penchant for a smooth delivery, while at the same time crisp enough to deliver those finer touches with more of an exactness to its notes. A lot depends on the track of course, but for the most part the Yacht 10 epitomizes these qualities. I also hear a decently detailed sound, so long as I use the silicone tips. Using the foams made the sound more blunted, less exact, a hair more warmth, but also less resolute. So, it’s the silicone tips for me. All in all, the natural and neutral-organic timbre is really a true highlight of this set. Its technical abilities are really just icing on the cake.
Nice Techs?
Anyways, detail retrieval is about average to above average for this cost with stellar imaging capabilities and decent instrument separation. I hear some nice layering of sounds too, not class leading, but nice for a single DD at $129. To add to that, the stage is great as well. It’s definitely spacious and expanded with solid width and it’s closer to 3D than it isn’t. That said, the soundstage is also closer to the listener with a more intimate approach. I definitely don’t feel the Yacht 10 is going to win any awards for its technical capabilities. Not that I feel they are an issue either. Far from it actually. Like I said, about average to above average for detail retrieval. What we have is a smooth set, rhythmic across the board, subtle warmth, and less finite sharpness and exactness at the crest of notes. However, I don’t want to call them blunted as I have heard many-many tracks on this set with great detail retrieval & controlled crispness. Which brings me to the point; it really all comes down to the type of music that you listen to. Complicated and congested music is obviously going to present a definition problem for this single DD. Yes, the Yacht 10 has a more quickly resolving fast twitch response for a single DD and transients are tight. However, it’s also a smoother sounding iem from attack through decay. Quick but smooth. Very nice timbre, but it may leave some people wishing for better details on certain tracks. Though I will cover this in greater depth later and possibly explain myself better too. Lol.
Few and far in between
Now, there are some instances of shout trending towards those upper mids and you may hear some slight edginess within the treble region. Burn-in helps a lot (more in that later). I don’t think that this is an “every song” problem though. Few and far in between. The sound isn’t so colored toward the bright side of the aisle that the overall sound skews that way. I would say that songs which are prone to sounding shouty, or glaring, will likely test your tolerance at times. So, it’s much rarer than anything else, yet it should be pointed out. It’s simply a vibrant sounding iem on some tracks. I should add that this set never really bothers me, but also, I don’t mind some slight glare at all also. Those who are sensitive to a hair more perkiness may not totally jive with the Yacht 10. Again, for me the Yacht 10 presents the sound in an organized and very well controlled manner with wonderful note control, cadence, and great note definition for a smoother sounding set.
Bass Region
The low-end of the Hiby Yacht 10 is very manicured, well defined, a very agile low-end. The bass on the Yacht 10 has this speedy type of note control which can take on faster bass passages without much problem. For me personally, I adore the bass for what it is. Very well balanced, never overwhelming, never overbearing, always stays in its lane and it’s always precise. Having said that, I certainly could use more sub-level rumble and palpable slam. Perhaps a fuller sound down low. But my preferences take absolutely nothing away from how skilled the low-end is. In truth, I can’t say enough good things about the bass. Hiby nailed this region for those people who desire a clean-impact presentation that has a hard-edged punch to it. It has a glass-lined note contour with a very nice surface texture depending on the track and the type of bass. To break the low-end down; it’s hard lined, streamlined, and refined. The bass coincides with the rest of the mix wonderfully, never going overboard and leaching into the mids in a “negative” way. Coexisting with the mids and treble very nicely and never becoming a bother or mudding up the mix. Without question the bass ventures over the line into the midrange, but the result is very appealing, great timbre and it’s tidy. It’s an even handed and very dexterous bass with an almost ductile ability to meander around any bass track in a proficient manner without clouding the mix… at all. No veil whatsoever. Just a touch more note weight, but I’ll cover the mids in a little bit. I assume you already know that the low-end is not basshead caliber.
Sub-Bass
One area of the mix which could use some good ole’ fashioned oomph and vibratory goodness is the lowest of the lows, the sub-bass. I don’t feel that the Yacht 10 necessarily “lacks” sub-bass emphasis, but I would have applauded a hair more physicality out of this area. Having said that, the sub-bass has very nice note definition, just like the rest of the frequency. That note definition and moderate influence over the bass is sufficient to garner enough authority for most any genre. However, I don’t feel it will be enough for most any hobbyist. I personally don’t have any issue with it at all, but I know the landscape in the audio community. Still, I love the dexterity and effortless finesse with which the sub-levels of the bass region operate. As far as straight-up emphasis is concerned, the truth is that the Yacht 10 is simply not overtly colored. That’s it. It still shows up with plenty of authority when called upon. Especially in heavy sub-bass tracks. Tracks like “Tell Me What’s on Your Mind” by The Decemberists. The Yacht 10 replays the low droning gravely beginning of this track with some meat to it. Very clean. However, you simply may want a hair more of the haptic feedback which a deep and robust sub-bass can give you. Everything else is wonderful. For $129 the sub-bass doesn’t overstep at all or make anything muddy or less defined and it’s very dynamic, and with good presence. It’s on a linear line with the mid-bass and comes across nicely detailed and very well separated.
Mid-Bass
The mid-bass is just as I said, linear with the emphasis in the sub-levels. However, the Yacht 10 has a nice punch to it in this region. Enough lift to sound commanding with bass guitar, and a satisfying impact when listening to a solid kick drum track. One of those tracks is “Billie Jean” by Weezer. Each successive and rapid kick from the drum is met with a very fast attack and clean punch followed by a swift and resonance filled hollow boom. Listening to the bass in the track “Lone Star Lake” by Waxahatchee I can’t get over how nice the outset of the song sounds. There’s this hard and full bassline followed by a very nice melody and the Yacht 10 absolutely nails it. You can hear the clean-lined and impactful punch which initiates the track. Perfectly separated, not masking anything and with some awesome organic timbre. So, it’s not the most impressive when it comes to bulbous weight, but it’s very impressive when it comes to skill level. Truly a well-done moderate bass replay for a single DD at $129. Transients are tight, decay is a touch more rapid than natural, and each capsulized beat comes with a very nice density, even if it’s somewhat lean. The notes still hit hard, they’re dynamic in their expression, not soft at all, and they have that wonderful word I like to use… presence! Just a well-defined bass that I have come to really enjoy. Nice work Hiby.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The biggest gripe would definitely be the fact that the Yacht 10 isn’t boosted to the stars with big and meaty bass. You don’t have those lingering and full resonances or lingering decay adding width and fullness to each note. You also don’t have that ultra deep drone and deep-toned haptic physicality which some sets are tuned with. So, the Yacht 10 won’t appease bassheads, or even those who simply like a heavily emphasized bass region. This set has a certain level of audiophile maturity and does so with excellent flare. This is quality over quantity in spades. Truly a fabulous bass if you really enjoy a dense bass with speed. However, nothing pleases everyone, and the Yacht 10 will fall short for the people I mentioned above. Though, if you can wrap your mind around a low-end that is highly skilled and clean as a whistle, then you’ll enjoy this set down low. Also, the Yacht 10 doesn’t miss on anything. Meaning, it still hits hard enough for most any genre.
Midrange
The mids of the Hiby Yacht 10 are without question the crown jewel of this set. They are notably forward yet without the spiky edginess that some sets are tuned to. What I hear is a predominantly smooth sound yet with an appropriate level of crispness. No doubt there are so many sets that I never review because of too much edge, too much unregulated and uncontrolled forward placed vivacity which renders vocals miserably untidy at the crest of notes, sometimes electric in their inflections, even metallic. So much so… that they simply sound too unnatural for me. I never speak on what I “don’t” review, but please trust me when I say, there’s way more than a few. The Yacht 10 is anything but unnatural in its midrange. In fact, the Yacht 10’s best quality may “arguably” be its midrange timbre and tonality. Very much organic, crystal clear, well separated, airy even, with a nicely detailed approach while not coming across as blatantly analytical.
Note weight
Having said that, note weight isn’t super rich. There’s bass which bleeds all the way to 650hz and somehow, I don’t hear overtly warm, shrouded, or very volumous notes. In fact, note weight is probably closer to semi lean, yet rich in bold presence. There’s some texture, some lean muscle mass, some evidence of dimension to notes. They aren’t flat, thin, frail, or even too wide and soft. For me, I don’t need richness for a thing to sound good to me. Also, I don’t feel that ‘rich’ always equates too ‘natural’. I know so many folks who do equate ‘warm’ and ‘rich’ to be the definition of natural or organic. I don’t necessarily feel that way. No doubt it can, but it isn’t a given. Natural to me simply means that the sound doesn’t have so much tonal coloration to the left or to the right that the sound becomes embellished. However, what I desire… is authentic presence. I want the presence to sound embossed against the volume of sound in my ears. Not diluted, dull, or undefined. Especially in the midrange. The Yacht 10 somewhat has that presence, along with nice density, and couple that with great control. Put all of that together and you may feel how I feel that; note weight is kinda nice on the Yacht 10 and it does come across as more…natural. Now, despite all of those great words, I also think the midrange can be a hair too ‘out-in-front’ at times too. These too-forward moments are few and far in between, but I do hear them. Nevertheless, way more often than not I greatly enjoy the sound of this midrange.
Vividness
Clean separation of instruments and voices are one of the Yacht 10’s midrange “Pros”. Along with great imaging which is helped tremendously by the soundstage along with the Yacht 10’s airiness. The midrange shows this off nicely. On top of that, I don’t usually hear anything too glaring or shouty. There are moments where the Yacht 10 can put a toe over that line for some folks, but I don’t feel that way per my own preferences. Personally, I like the extra energy, the vivaciousness, and the coherent vividness within the range.
Lower-Midrange
The lower midrange has what I would call a more uplifted sound, not as low-toned as some iems with bass influence in this region. The bonus is that the low-mids have that subtle lift yet without coming across thin. Males generally have some moderate weight to them. I definitely don’t find male vocalists to sound either too warm/rich, bright/thin, or distant/recessed. Hiby tuned this region nicely. Nice enough to say there’s some authenticity to most any intonation within a man’s voice. Add to that any instrument in this region too. I suppose a hair more weight would be even closer to authentic, but the Yacht 10 certainly gets you close. In my opinion, the timbre is great. Male vocalists like Benson Boone in the track “Beautiful Things” are a nice testament to the Yacht 10’s ability to not embellish the more dynamic inflections to his voice. This is a track which certainly shows off Benson’s range while at the same time testing the control of iems everywhere. When he hits those high notes, I don’t hear anything negative with the Yacht 10 in my ears. Or singers like Chris Stapleton in the track “Sometimes I Cry”. His voice gets so piercing, edgy, and coarse in this track and the Yacht 10 remains very well controlled, very clean, and just enough warmth to bring those high notes back down to earth. Still, what I enjoy most with male vocals is just how smooth they sound with that good presence.
Upper-Midrange
Now, the upper-mids are more forward then the lower-mids with a more vibrant and shimmery sound within the region. As one should expect. Like I said earlier, the upper mid offer a very nice pinna gain which doesn’t overwhelm the spectrum in glare or shout. Not to my ears anyways. I’m sure those sensitive to it may have a slight issue, but not for me. I hear very nice note contours and definition with solid detail retrieval for a more resolute sound. Also, I hear very good clarity, with an orderly and well administered sheen of illuminated presence. I find the upper-mids never get too shouty but instead feature a nice and gratifying glow. Females really do well to my ears. Of course, at times they may come across a hint too forward for some ears. However, females and higher pitched males are always dead center in the sound field, always sound highlighted against the rest of the mix and they really come across melodic and harmonious. Norah Jones in her smash hit “Don’t Know Why” is a perfect example of the Yacht 10 helping her voice to sound less distant and more out front. Her voice sounds sweet, and earthy, while at the same time the accentuations and vocalizations of her voice sound crystal clear. Or Lake Street Dive in the song “I Can Change”. Man, her voice sounds great with this set! I love that the Yacht 10 can sound illuminated and forward and not lose the emotion of the song. Truly nice.
Instrumentation
Most instruments “generally” sound pretty darn close to authentic. Folks, the timbre on this set is one of its strongest attributes. Just like voices, instruments come through smooth, clean, great clarity, and almost uncolored. I will be very quick and also use very broad strokes in this section. It’s just easier that way and I already write reviews which are way too long. Anyways, with a very generalized and sweeping ‘broad-stroke’ style I can say for sure that instruments like percussion do carry a slight snap to them. However, the smoothness which waves over the spectrum does slightly blunt that snap. Of course, the word “blunt”, or “blunted” has such a negative connotation to it. Truth is, I like the sound much better this way. No doubt, I like crispness and precision note contours just like the next guy…but I like musicality more. You see, the dynamics are there on the Yacht 10, the macro-details are wonderful, the dynamic contrast is there, and the Yacht 10 has nice micro-dynamics. However, it’s the pointed and acute definition at the crest of some notes which somewhat gets smoothed-over. Which has its own rewards, and also its own subjective problems too. Those folks who desire every last intonation and finite subtle micro detail or secondary harmonic will still be happy, but at times the smooth nature does polish over some of the crispness.
Instruments cont…
Moving on, the fundamental tone of a cymbal strike has some very nice body and never sounds chinsy or splashy. Also, snares do come across with that savory and tacky “PAP”. Percussion with the Yacht 10 does carry some percussive crunch and punch. Strings generally have enough bite to provide a melodic tunefulness, along with just enough of an abrasive edge at times too. Violin is really nice, as in, any Lindsey Stirling track. Just play one of her tracks with this set and you’ll see. Woody, silvery, harmonious, and a nicely nuanced sound with solid note density. Woodwinds also generally come across very harmonic, even resounding at times. The Flute has that in-tune resonance, like wind across a bottle top, really dulcet & soothingly resonant. Or the gratifyingly wetted, razor sharp and sometimes nasally sound of a saxophone comes across both rich and complex with a warm, engaging, and cutting quality. However, I have to stop there. There’s too many instruments and too many different recordings to fully relay my thoughts to you concerning instrumentation. I could keep going on but I think you get the picture.
We reviewers try to give you some understanding of the sound from our perspective. What I can say is this, the Yacht 10 has a natural sway to every sound which emanates from its nozzles. Think of a warm/neutral tone with a forward presence, smooth in its texture, black background, wonderful clarity and a slightly boosted upper-mid/lower treble. Now think of your favorite track which features your favorite instruments. All in all, the Hiby Yacht 10 really has a nice sounding midrange which only really helps instruments to sound nicely authentic.
Downsides to the Midrange
The midrange of the Hiby Yacht 10 is one of its best features. Though nothing is for everyone and certainly there will be some hobbyists who simply won’t enjoy the Yacht 10 in this region. I’d say anyone who is a diehard warm, dark, ultra-rich lover will not enjoy the clean & airy presence within the region. There is a layer of subtle warmth from the low-end, but the Yacht 10 has a predominantly neutral leaning sound with an energetic upper mid. Again, there will be plenty of folks who will desire a hair more warmth. On the other side of the fence there are those straight-up analytical heads who only want clean, thin, dry, and ridiculously detailed. Once again, the Yacht 10 is nicely detailed, is clean, and it is in-part analytical, but it isnt a detail monster and it is a bit too smoothed over in some areas. If I were to be crazy picky, I’d add that there are certainly times when stuff like vocals, and upper midrange dynamics, even bass heavy tracks can drown-out some instruments. I truly don’t feel that 95% of you would ever even notice. However, after listening for weeks now in a critical state with many different source devices I can tell you that this very slight issue can crop up. Other than that, I adore this midrange. It’s so musically fulfilling while at the same time I hear a very nice and detailed sound with great resolution. Hiby did a great job tuning this set and the midrange is a huge part of that.
Treble Region
Looking at the treble region, I feel it has a perfectly suitable emphasis, nice sparkle, and just a pleasant glow within the region. Just enough brilliance to illuminate the rest of the mix while providing some air to the sound and even some solid micro-detail retrieval as well. Really just an organic and clean sounding treble without any strident peaks or sharpness. It’s a wonderful mix of pleasantly edgy and smooth like glass. In fact, the word “pleasant” keeps coming to mind for me. It has a pleasant lift, nothing which causes fatigue. The Yacht 10’s treble has a very pleasant progression from the upper-mids to the lower-treble. I also hear a very pleasant extension into the upper treble. Nothing wonky, weird, discordant or shrill. Truly a nice sounding treble. It’s all about the timbre in this region, just as it’s about the timbre in the midrange and the bass. The treble is not without some shine, some resplendence, some slight brightness either. This is not a boring treble. For the most part the treble accurately depicts higher-pitched sounds without sounding too aggressive, as well as an innate ability to reproduce subtle nuances while keeping a somewhat smoother profile. Hiby did a nice job of bringing an energetic element to the treble while toeing the line between relaxed and bright as well as smooth and crisp, I’m all for it.
Burn baby burn
Now, I do have to state that when I first got the Yacht 10, I was not a fan of the treble. It was a crying shame at the time because I was very much enjoying the stellar bass replay and the melodic midrange. So, as always, I tried to tip roll, turned the volume down, and almost wasn’t going to review the Yacht 10. However, I would never make that determination without giving this set (or any set) a chance at some lengthy burn-in. Friends, I understand not everyone has the same feelings as I about burn-in and its efficacy. Despite that, without question the treble pretty much transformed after burn-in occurred. I don’t know how many days or hours it takes for this edginess to smooth over. But I do know it helped tremendously. Carry-on…
Nice details
The treble region also has some solid detail retrieval abilities. Not detail monster levels… but nice. I have zero issues hearing very fine features within my music. Whether those being the slight abrasive screech of a finger slide on a guitar string or subtle harmonics etc. the Yacht 10 is pretty much able to bring those subtleties to the surface. Furthermore, instrument separation is aided by a tighter ‘perceived’ transient response. I don’t hear any bloom of treble sheen clogging up the space between instruments, generally. Now I don’t feel that the Yacht 10 is the type of treble which is going to have all the crisp bite, or edgy crunch which so many yearn for, but that also doesn’t mean the Yacht 10 is without a measure of that crunch either. It’s just purposefully subdued to allow a more refined and smoother sound. This isn’t a straight cold and clinical sound with loads of edginess. Note outlines are the furthest thing from coarse or grainy too. This is one set which really exudes that easy going and smooth sound. Yet it isn’t smooth like velvet or overly soft or plush in attack. It’s smoother like glass with a clean note surface, not fuzzy and great resolution. This clean note surface, solid separation, tidier transient attack & decay as well as a somewhat airy sound really does help the Yacht 10 to bring some of those micro minutiae to the surface.
Extension
I also hear some fairly good treble extension out past 8k. It’s not to the point that the sound is gaining massive amounts of air, but it’s enough to prop up the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike without hearing anything splashy, tizzy, or covered in sheen. Actually, cymbals also have very nice timbre. Of course, everyone has their own idea of how cymbals are supposed to sound or what “natural” sounds like. I’m not pretending that I’m the last word on this. That said, I don’t hear anything full of splash with washed out harmonics. They come across fairly naturally to my ears. Certainly, the extension won’t blow your mind or make treble heads drool. This is not to that caliber. The Yacht 10 is a single DD folks and while it’s tuned very well with a very solid driver, we shouldn’t expect good BA, micro planar, or EST levels here. On the flipside, I feel that the Yacht 10’s treble extension and really the treble in general is perfectly suited for this set.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I’d say the biggest issue within the treble region for the Yacht 10 is probably that it simply isn’t as crisp and biting as some treble-bois would want. Again, this is a smoother sounding treble with adequate levels of bite and crunch, but it won’t please those hard treble heads. It’s far too relaxed for those guys and gals. I suppose that extension could be a hair more elevated too, but I’m grasping at straws. I wouldn’t want to do anything which would screw up the nice tuning job that Hiby accomplished on this set and so I’d be much more apt to just leave it alone. Plus, the treble fits this tuning like a hand and glove. It truly represents the overall flavor of this set in a very pleasing way. Is it for everyone? You already know the answer to that, of course not. Be that as it may, the Yacht 10 is performed admirably for the cost, for the price, and for the tuning.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage on the Hiby Yacht 10 is nicely wide, definitely above average. However, it isn’t so large that we’re talking tops-in-class or anything. It’s nice though. Above average for the cost in my mind. Height is very tall as well which aids the Yacht 10 in its ability to stretch the stage. Though the one area of the sound field which best enables this set to thrive in this department is in the depth of field. It has depth folks. Some very nice front to back depth. I wouldn’t say the Yacht 10 has amazing 3D stage presence, but I do hear nice layering of sounds. Furthermore, the depth certainly gives the Yacht 10 some added dimension and roundness, a measure of proportion which also brings upon the perception of depth to each note. Not just the sound field. Again, not to the point that I’m calling the Yacht 10 some amazing holographic phenom. But very nice.
Separation / Imaging
Instruments sound well separated with competent and discernable space between instruments in many tracks. Especially in less complicated music. Obviously, in the more complicated songs you won’t hear nearly as discernable separation, but for the most part the Yacht 10 does very well. Imaging is the same. I hear very solid placement of elements within the stage. Ya know, Imaging is one of those attributes which you’re either good at, or not. Good or bad. You can’t have a set which blows your mind with its placement. It can either do it… or not. It can either faithfully reproduce what the recording is asking of it, or not. Definitely the Yacht 10 reproduces the recording very well. To add to that, I hear nice layering of sounds. Honestly, the Yacht 10 is a nice technically inclined iem folks. Like I’ve said a bunch of times thus far, it isn’t some technical mastermind of a set, but it is very good.
Detail Retrieval
I’ve said it a few times in this review that the Yacht 10 is not exactly a detail monster. Unquestionably, it does a very commendable job at bringing to light some of the finer details. In spite of that, I definitely don’t feel the Yacht 10 competes with iems within its price point which are tuned specifically to bring out those same details. The Yacht 10 is too smooth to be that, it’s too musically persuaded, too rhythmic, and simply too fluid. Having said that, in my opinion the Yacht 10 gets the best of both disciplines with above average detail retrieval and some very nice musicality. If you ask me, I’d take a set like the Yacht 10 every day of the week over a strict analytical iem. I need at least some semblance of liquid mellifluousness. Having said all of that, I can tell you all right now that when I’m listening to the Yacht 10… I’m really not missing anything.
Comparisons
Fiio FD15 ($149)
The Fiio FD15 (FD15 Review) is one of those sets which truly stands out when it comes to timbre. I picked this set because (as honest as I can be) I consider the FD15 as one of the best single DD iems that money can buy for under $150. I also picked this set because I feel it’s the one single DD iem which actually competes with the Yacht 10 under $150 too. I’m telling you all right now, if you want a set which will provide some of the most natural timbre with a clean and semi-fun sound then the FD15 is one to consider. Now, the FD15 stands out with a massive 13.8 mm magnesium DLC dynamic driver and its cool design. Truly a beautiful set which is more like jewelry than anything else. So, can the Yacht 10 take on one of the best? I think it can, let’s see why (from my perspective).
Differences
The Fiio FD15 and the Hiby Yacht 10 are both made with an all-alloy build. The FD15 is made using shiny mirror-like stainless steel while the Yacht 10 is made of aluminum. The Yacht 10 is larger while the FD15 takes on the small circular shape resembling some of its predecessors. I like the fit of both sets but the Yacht 10 definitely gets the win here as it’s simply more comfortable, much lighter, and much easier to get a seal. The design is an entirely subjective thing but personally I do like the look of the FD15 a bit more. Still, the Yacht 10 is flat out dope looking and I can’t take anything away from it. Both sets come outfitted with great accessories, from the tips to the case, to the modular cables which come with both sets. Though, the FD15 does come equipped with two sets of tuning nozzles. I feel that the unboxing experience is more premium with the Yacht 10, but both have great unboxing experiences. Of course, the FD15 is also about $30 more expensive, so do keep that in mind.
Sound Differences
To begin, the FD15 does have a slight bit more low-end oomph, with a hair more physicality down low. Though, the Yacht 10 certainly has the cleaner, better defined, tighter, and more quality bass replays. Not by much though. It really comes down to what you enjoy as the FD15 has a slightly more fun low-end, deeper, more haptic vibratory goodness. Really though, not much separates these two besides some upper region emphasis. The midrange if both sets are forward and are both fantastic vocal sets. Both have some of the best timbre under $200. It is so very hard to pick a favorite here. I can tell you that the FD15 has a touch less energy in the upper mids which affects much of the frequency. The Yacht 10 simply has more luster, shimmer, and comes across a hair more vibrant. I find the FD15 to be a hint warmer, slightly more musical, but the Yacht 10 wins out for detail retrieval, clarity, transient response swiftness, and better instrument separation. Both sets offer a very smooth and rhythmic sound. The treble of the Yacht 10 carries more brilliance, sparkle, and has a less relaxed sound up top. However, I hate saying any of this because I don’t want any of you influenced to think one is better than the other. I really mean it, both sets are phenomenal in their smooth delivery and their awesome timbre. Again, the Yacht 10 is probably better technically until you get to the soundstage where the FD15 has a touch more of a 3D presentation. Both sets offer great depth for single dynamic driver earphones, but the FD15’s ability to bring dimension to the sound does eclipse the Yacht 10 buly a very small margin.
Final thoughts on this comparison
Folks, this is hard for me to do because I am so smitten with both iems. I truly enjoy them both for almost the exact same reasons. Also, there are only slight differences between the two. I’d say they are both very smooth timbre kings which carry a nicely technical sound to go with nice musicality. It may just come down to price for you. I think Fiio should have thought twice before going as high as $150 when you have such a high caliber iem in the Yacht 10 for $30 less. Be that as it may, both iems are pretty damn great.
Is it worth the asking price?
I will answer this very short and sweet because it’s a very easy answer from this guy. Undeniably and categorically the answer from me is a resounding yes. Hiby did such a nice job on this set for what it is. They weren’t trying to bring to market some amazingly bassy and fun set. They weren’t going for the most technically adept and detailed set either. In some ways you could say that Hiby played this one safe even. However, if a solidly and professionally tuned iem with a nice balance and no strident and annoying peaks means “safe” … well then sign me up for the next one too Hiby. I have been so impressed with this set that I’ve had trouble spending time with many other sets that I’m supposed to be spending time with as well. Really an excellent purchase at $129 and one which I don’t feel that many hobbyists would be let-down by. Every area of the mix has been thoughtfully and expertly tuned to create a very nice balance without many real negative aspects. That said, there are of course subjective preferential issues which some will come across, though I truly don’t feel that those people will be in the majority.
The Why…
Because the Yacht 10 is built like an absolute stud! Awesome build quality which seems to curve perfectly around the ear. The Yacht 10 is very lightweight, very ergonomic, and the Yacht 10 looks really cool too. The cyber-punk design is so very unique. Plus, the unboxing experience is actually an experience. It’s fun, as Hiby provides a slew of eartips which actually help the Yacht 10 to sound nice (so long as they fit you). They give out a very nice carrying case that I’d definitely use when out and about. Also, the modular cable serves this set very well. Let’s put it this way, I always cable swap to find the best pairing and I didn’t have to swap anything at all with this set. The cable is perfect for it. So, the unboxing is very nice. Very much in line with some of the best sets within the price point. Build wise, aesthetics, and all of the other non-music related points if interest are covered well on the Yacht 10.
That sound though!
However, push all that non-audio related stuff to the side and let’s look at why the sound pushes this set over the top. First off, that timbre! The Yacht 10’s number one asset is how natural it sounds. That somewhat relaxed, somewhat energetic, and somewhat musically-technical sound really helps to engage the listener. The dynamic balance throughout the mix is really great too. You have tight, punchy, and very well-defined bass which transitions perfectly into the midrange without the sound coming across muddy, veiled, or overburdened by the masking of sounds. Man, that bass is quality through and through. The midrange is just nice. The Yacht 10 has that organic and earthy type of sound with enough vibrance to add some sparkle, some shine, and a nice touch of glow to the midrange. It has lean-lush note weight with enough density and dynamic contrast to keep things authentic and fun. Next, the treble has the perfect amount of brilliance, bite and treble punch while still remaining smooth throughout coupled with decent extension into the upper treble as well. Details are above average for the cost, instrument separation is clean and distinct, Imaging is spot-on, and the soundstage is wide, tall, and has depth. You’ve read my “downsides” and while there are definitely plenty of those it is easy to see why I enjoy this set. So, for me, my preferences, and my library, the Hiby Yacht 10 is most certainly worth every penny.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Hiby Yacht 10 ratings below, that would be $100-$150 earphones of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $100-$150 earphones of any driver configuration is an enormous scope of iems. So, it should be something special to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 9.2 Wonderfully built.
–Look: 9.2 Love the look of this set.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.8 Fit and comfort is very good for me.
–Accessories: 9.6 Nice unboxing, far above average.
–Overall: 9.5🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.7 Completely natural, great timbre!
–Bass: 9.3 Speedy, well defined, textured.
–Midrange: 9.1 100% melodic, vocals are top notch.
–Treble: 8.8 Well detailed, non-offensive, clean.
–Technicalities: 9.2 Mostly great for what it is.
–Musicality: 9.2 Nice musicality.
–Overall: 9.2🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
The ratings above pit the Hiby Yacht 10 against any and all driver types and configurations between the cost of $100 & $150 US. Of course, these ratings are based on my opinions. However, keep in mind that I can only judge this set against those $100 to$150 iems that I have. I refuse to rate a set without actually having those other sets in hand and in my ears during the rating period. I love this part of every review because I get to do real-time comparisons per each sound rating category. Although, you should note that I obviously don’t have every set to compare and so I’m asking you to take these ratings with a grain of salt. It’s hard to rate something when you haven’t even heard of all of the iems in its price point. Just full disclosure my friends. In any event, I have enough of the best that $100 to $150 has to offer to get a good and solid idea of where the Yacht 10 stands. The Yacht 10 rated very high in a few categories with an overall sound rating of “9.2”. Think of all the sets in the range folks. Think of how many baller iems are within this price segment. With that thought in mind, a “9.2” is a very high score.
Explain Yourself!!
I have some explaining to do. I’ll admit it. Not everyone is going to agree with me here and I realize that. Nevertheless, I give you my most honest thoughts here folks.
Timbre
I’ll say this, nobody should argue with me about the “Timbre”. A “9.7” is legit. Of course, that doesn’t mean someone won’t argue and that doesn’t mean I’m right because we are all right all the time. It’s subjective. I could see someone who’d day that the Yacht 10 is too colored in vibrance to come across organic. Those same folks probably consider warm and rich to be the defining characteristic of a “natural” and “organic” sound. I get that too. I’m actually torn between my thoughts on what’s natural or not. I think so much has to do with just how pleasant sounding the Yacht 10 is. How smooth it is. How nicely detailed and melodic it is. So… “9.7”. Lock it in!
Bass
Next, of course the bass will get some naysayers. I gave this set a “9.3”. The only reason the Yacht 10’s bass didn’t get the best score in the range is because there simply isn’t enough emphasis to go with that amazing note definition, contour, cleanliness, and lean-density. Just a few more db’s in the right places would’ve brought this set into the stratosphere. Still, it’s a high-quality bass folks and deserving in all regards to the “9.3” I gave it. To be perfectly honest, as I type these words, I feel I should’ve gone higher, as though I made a mistake. Too late now, listening is over, can’t change it.
Me against Me
I have arguments against myself for every category, but listening 1v1 against every set I have in the range does help my argument against… myself. I wouldn’t change a thing. That is, until six months from now and 30 more awesome sets litter the range rendering my rating absolutely obsolete. Grains of salt ladies and gents.
Final thoughts on the Hiby Yacht 10
Here we are at the end of the review. This process is so long for me folks. I spend so much time on these reviews that it’s a little bit silly. Hence why it takes me a longer time to get reviews out. That said, I couldn’t have been happier to write about the Yacht 10. With that thought in mind; the Yacht 10 doesn’t even fit my own perfect taste. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoy it. But it doesn’t fit “perfectly”. I just know a good thing when I see and hear it. This set is a very good thing. Truly a competitor against any and all iems under $150. Not everyone will agree, though I’m not quite sure how you couldn’t. Hiby really did a fine job. It’s such a well-rounded iem. Every area of the mix (bass, mids, treble) is perfectly emphasized to keep a clean and yet robust sound. That’s not the easiest components of sound to tune into a set of earphones at $129.The Yacht 10 is so smooth yet crisp, relaxed yet energized, fun yet mature, and technical yet musically gifted. Really, the Yacht 10 sits right in that perfectly balanced zone. Folks, I cannot leave this review without my personal recommendation. I absolutely recommend that you spring for the Yacht 10 if you feel you’d enjoy this type of sound and if you can afford the $129 it takes to own it.
Conclusion
I have had such a joyful time writing about this set. Hiby you did a bang-up job (bang-up=good) in every aspect of the Yacht 10! Truly a job well done. No, this set won’t fit everyone’s ideal preferences, but I think many of you will truly enjoy what Hiby was able to do. I want to thank Hiby for providing me with the Yacht 10 so that I could spend the time getting to know it. Thank you very much! I also want to thank you, the reader for taking the time to click that link. We at Mobileaudiophile.com greatly appreciate every time you do so. Thank you. Clicking that link and spending quality time at our site is very beneficial to us.
Other perspectives
Now that you’ve heard my take, try to read, listen to, or watch another reviewer’s perspective. I think this is one of the most important steps to find out if something fits you. So many of us differ in many different ways which makes it all the more important that the consumer try to learn all he or she can before hitting that “buy now” button. It’ll only serve you well. At any rate, I really do hope you find what you are looking for so that you can sit back and relax and melt into your music. Welp, I think I’m about done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!
