I’ve been familiar with the Hidizs brand for quite some time before Hidizs MK12. Having reviewed models like the MS3, MS5 and many more — sometimes not so impressed, other times saying “Wow” — my ears naturally perked up when the MK12 landed in my hands. Especially this time, they’ve gone with a single 12mm dynamic driver using a magnesium alloy diaphragm, and I was genuinely curious to hear what that would bring to the table.
This time, Hidizs isn’t making bold claims through technical specs but rather through their material choice. Questions like “How much does the magnesium alloy reflect on the sound?” or “Does it really deliver the clarity and speed it’s known for?” started forming in my mind from the first moments of listening. I typically do my testing with sources like the HiBy R4, Snowsky Echo Mini, and sometimes the Cayin N8ii, along with various eartips. I ran the MK12 through my usual reference tracks — and even a few analog rips just for the nostalgic vibe. Plus added up two of our team mates perspectives below.
Sound Technical Details
The initial impression Hidizs MK12 gives is that it has no intention of sacrificing musicality for technical show-off. The soundstage is generously wide for this price range. Both horizontal spread and depth are handled well. Instrument placement is clear; vocals sit upfront while supporting instruments stay behind but never feel recessed. This setup really shines in complex mixes like Toto’s Africa. It doesn’t get congested, but it doesn’t sterilize the presentation either.
Detail retrieval is above expectations. Especially in the mids and upper frequencies, small nuances are easily picked up. The fast response of the magnesium diaphragm seems to kick in here. However, as I noticed in the early listening, if you don’t match it with the right tips and cable, the low frequencies can sound too soft or a bit veiled. So yes, the technical potential is there, but the presentation needs a solid setup to shine. The good news is: when paired right, the MK12 offers a lot more.
Bass
The bass on the Hidizs MK12 initially feels warm and full-bodied. But that warmth sometimes turns into a bit of roundness. Especially in tracks with deep and dynamic subbass (like Shades of Black), a bit of resonance remains. Still, it’s important to point out that this is very tip- and source-dependent. When the same track is played with a tighter seal and a more neutral source, the bass becomes much more controlled.
Midbass is well balanced—not too soft, not too punchy. Bass guitar runs are clearly audible; even during the fast slap transitions in Polyphia’s GOAT, the bass holds its character without smearing. In electronic music, it adds a more “organic” touch rather than sounding artificial or boosted. Overall, Hidizs seems to have found a sweet spot here: offering fun and body without sacrificing control. That said, hardcore bassheads might still wish for a touch more subbass kick—but this feels like a conscious tuning choice.
Midrange
The midrange of the MK12 seems to be the emotional center of its entire tuning, at least for now. Vocals are close and present, but they don’t overpower the rest of the mix. Starting with Hetfield’s vocals, the depth of the stage allows the voice to feel both centered and airy. This makes a big difference especially with analog recordings or vinyl-rip tracks, where natural timbre has more room to breathe.
Instruments come through clearly. Electric guitars sound lively without getting harsh, and acoustic guitars are sweet and full. Male vocals have a bit more body, while female vocals feel slightly more open. This is also tied to the quality of the recording; on poor recordings, some mid details may shift towards the treble, but in general the tonality is balanced and honest. It doesn’t color the mids unnecessarily, but it’s not soulless either — it hits a good middle ground.
Treble
The treble might be one of the most carefully tuned areas of the Hidizs MK12. It extends well without becoming sharp or fatiguing. This really shows in tracks like Africa, rich in synth elements. For example, crash cymbals and hi-hats are present and clear, and they deliver detail without harshness. This kind of controlled sparkle adds a premium feel to the MK12’s sound.
That said, the treble isn’t showy — it’s restrained in a good way. Some listeners might wish for more sparkle, but the goal here seems to be a safe but transparent top-end. The result is a mildly cool, but not sterile treble that’s easy to listen to for long sessions. Especially in acoustic genres like classical or jazz, this treble balance pays off. It’s bright, but never piercing. Achieving that balance isn’t easy.
Chris’ and Pietro’s Addition___
Chris’:
Overall SQ:
The Hidizs MK12 represents the best that Hidizs has made to date in my opinion. It’s rich, warm, very clean, and wonderfully gifted musically as well as in its technical display.
Bass:
The low-end is punchy and well defined with a moderately deep sublevel extension and a very clean but also fairly fun mid-bass.
Midrange:
In my opinion the midrange is the crown jewel of the MK12 with wonderful vocals, great clarity and resolution, as well as a very engaging sound.
Treble:
I feel that the treble simply fits perfectly. Not too bright, not too strident, but also nicely detailed and sparkly.
Comparison:
The MK12 and the EA1000 from Simgot represent two of the best single DD iems on the market near $200. In my opinion the MK12 is lusher, more musical, and more engaging overall with a bigger bass presence and less fatigue. The EA1000 is technically superior with a sharper and more exact note definition. Albeit also much brighter and more harsh at times too.
Conclusions
The Hidizs MK12 Turris is a true standout single DD within its price point which is certainly in the conversation for the best single DD under $300.
Pietro’s:
Overall SQ
I was absolutely blown away by this new type of dynamic driver, as its richness is closer to multi-driver or planar IEMs. The Hidizs Mk12 Turris redefines the level that dynamic drivers can reach. The use of magnesium is probably what makes its sound special, incredibly rich in detail and energy. The driver could easily outclass the quality of the driver found in the Simgot EA1000 Fermat. These are amazing quality IEMs. The Hidizs MK12 is more on the musical side to my ear, with a great focus on the mids.
Bass
The bass is phenomenal, in my opinion. I dare say that the original cable limits the performance a bit, and above all, it takes a lot of current to make them as round and full as possible. Overall, they have a massive impact, closer to a full-size headphone. I think that’s a big compliment for an IEM.
Midrange
One of the best mids I have ever heard. It has very similar performances with both male and female voices. The texture is really excellent, almost making you believe you are listening to a multi-driver or planar IEM. I think there is no better compliment for an IEM with a dynamic driver. Each track is absurdly rich in details, and the voices have the right thickness and give you the feeling of being more vivid. The sound timbre is natural but denotes some warm nuances that come from the bass range. The representation of musical instruments is also excellent, and its directional and spatial capacity contributes to a clear and spacious soundstage. The magnesium driver somehow manages not to suffocate any frequency, giving its best.
Treble
On the trebles, perhaps a little more could have been dared, but as in the case of the Hidizs MP145, it is not that something is really missing. The driver has an enormous capacity to represent macro and micro details already from the mids and on the trebles; it is absolutely no less. The presence of a roll-off is clear, but the result is smooth and soft trebles that allow you to raise the volume with ease and significantly prolong the listening sessions. The presence of air remains at an excellent level, and the brilliance is notable, even though from the graphs it may seem like a slightly dark IEM.
Comparison
There are many possible comparisons; the quality of the Hidizs Mk12 Turris is undoubtedly impressive, even if we consider that the price for the first customers at launch is only 109 USD. After a certain number of sales, the price increases until it settles on 199 USD. Even at full price, I can safely say that it is an IEM that is worth the asking price. Even in comparison to my favorite single drivers, the Simgot EA1000 Fermat, we notice how the quality is even higher on the Hidizs. Starting from the lighter shells obtained from CNC machining, it is clear that the shells should undoubtedly be more expensive. The drivers are both of the highest level, but have two membranes of different materials and different final tunings.
What the Hidizs Mk12 shows is the ability to stand up to over-ear headphones. I also had a friend of mine who is very passionate about music try them, and the first thing he noticed was that they seemed to have full-size headphones. The sound is so full and rich that it gives the sensation of having something much bigger in your ears. I easily prefer them even in front of the Hifiman Edition XS or my Philips Fidelio X2HR. Many friends whom I tell that IEMs are now very close to the quality of large headphones remain a bit skeptical but with a product similar to the Hidizs Mk12, I’m sure they would change their minds.
Conclusions
At the launch price, there is absolutely nothing to compete with. They are absolutely the queens of the 100-200 dollar range these days. Maybe if you want a slightly more linear tuning, the Simgot Ea1000 Fermat remains the most appropriate choice, but if you are looking for a slightly more fun product, innovative on the driver side, and with CNC-machined aluminum shells, then the Hidizs MK12 Turris is definitely a few steps ahead. As I said, it easily holds its own against the MP145, but with obviously different bass. Nowadays, there are not many products that offer similar performance in this price range.
Source & Eartip Matching
The MK12 is a bit picky by nature. In other words, it doesn’t sound the same in every setup. I did my initial listening through the balanced output of th HiBy R4, and with balanced tips, I noticed a bit of bass bloat. However, the same IEM paired with the more neutral-sounding Snowsky Echo Mini and wide-bore tips gave me a much clearer, more controlled profile. That was a key observation, especially for taming the low end.
Anemon eartips generally refine the sound by opening up the upper registers and providing clearer, more detailed treble while firming up the bass response, making it tighter and less bloated. They also improve instrument separation and overall sound staging thanks to a better seal and unique acoustic filtering effect, giving IEMs a cleaner, more defined presentation without making the sound overly bright or harsh.
The cable choice also makes a difference; with the 3.5mm plug it sounds warmer, while the 4.4mm balanced output opens up the presentation. So the sound is clearly influenced not just by the power and character of the source, but also the eartips and cable material. I’ll be doing a second round of listening using Hidizs’ Sea Amone tips, which I expect to reveal these differences more clearly. In short, the MK12 has a lot of potential — but it needs careful pairing.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Wide and well-layered soundstage
- Treble is detailed but non-fatiguing
- Mids feel both natural and resolving
- Feels like a higher-tier product with the right source
- Lightweight and comfortable for long listening
Cons:
- Bass can feel bloated in the wrong setup
- Treble might feel too reserved for some listeners
- Tip and source pairing is critical to reach its full potential
Hidizs MK12 Review Conclusion
The MK12 is easily one of the most refined and mature releases from Hidizs in recent years. It’s a single-driver IEM with a whole lot of personality. The shell may look bold at first glance, but thankfully, the sound carries the same seriousness. Especially its detail retrieval, soundstage and vocal performance had me thinking, “Okay, Hidizs really figured it out this time.” Some of the overly flashy yet flawed elements we saw in earlier models like the MS3 or MS5 have been dialed back here.
Of course, this IEM won’t suit everyone. If you’re looking for a plug-and-play, instant-pleasure IEM that works in any setup, this might require a bit more effort. But if you’re patient, and you’re willing to fine-tune the right tip-cable-source combo, the MK12 rewards you generously. Given the official price, I am surprised. Because this proves that a single dynamic driver can still pull off something special without rising up to 4 digits, like the Twilight did.
Here is the kickstarter link of this beauty
