Hidizs MP145 Pro Review 

Intro 

This review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Hidizs named the Hidizs MP145 Pro ($169 early bird). The MP145 Pro is the third release in the “MP series” of planar magnetic earphones, as well as a very much anticipated release. The MP145 Pro is actually coming soon to Kickstarter and I have a good feeling it will be very popular. It is also the direct successor to one of the most highly touted planar sets, the Hidizs MP145 (MP145 Review). I say this because the Hidizs MP145 was, and still is, one of the most beloved and legendary iems to hit the market within the last five years. When it comes to planar magnetic iems you’d be hard pressed to not hear the name MP145 get brought up. Just an absolute MONSTER within the community and a true testament to Hidizs craftiness, artistic ability, and skill as tuners. I actually refer to the MP145 as a “Legend” set, and I stand by that. You see, every now and again a set of earphones, or an audio device will get released and momentarily change that audio landscape. Complete disruptors of the natural ebb and flow of the market. That was the MP145. I never would’ve thought that we’d have a planar (at the time) come along and “own” the Letshuoer S12 Pro or the 7hz Timeless in such a convincing way. A true-blue market disruptor which set the new course for planar tuning and set a new standard for what a planar can be for under $200. Anyways, I am patiently waiting for the MP145 Pro to arrive at my home, and I am very curious to hear where Hidizs decided to take the tuning. 

WDC

I have to mention Hidizs collaboration with “Whale and Dolphin Conservation”, otherwise known as the “WDC” who has been a constant partner with Hidizs “MP series” beginning with the Hidizs MP145 followed by the very well-done little brother of the MP145, the Hidizs MP143 Salt (MP143 Review). Of course, the MP145 Pro is the latest which follows this oceanic theme and once again Hidizs is working closely with the WDC. Now, the WDC is a well-known global charity which was enacted to protect whales, dolphins, & porpoises through their own direct conservation projects, full of public campaigns, further science, and simple advocacy for our marine friends and the environment that they live in. From the outside looking in, the WDC seems to be a legit charity who really does some solid work. I know that you can never be too sure. Looking into the WDC, they appear to have four main objectives; end the captivity of whales and dolphins, bring all commercial whaling to an end, prevent deaths from fishing gear entanglement, and they have a goal to clean up the seas. At any rate, Hidizs has promised that with every sale of their MP lineup they will donate to the WDC to help further their efforts. I think that we can all agree that this is a worthy cause and one which we can all get behind. Obviously, this effort has paid off as the partnership is still going strong.

Hidizs 

I think it’s fair to say that I have had a wonderful working relationship with the audio brand Hidizs. I’ve been reviewing their products steadily for around five years now and I have yet to turn them down. Every set or audio device has its own personality and unique path into the market. Also, you don’t hear any kind of “house sound” with Hidizs, which is nice. It’s good to hear something new, something different. They’re always seeking new challenges. Ya know, Hidizs was actually founded way back in 2009 by someone that many of us know in the industry named Tamson Tan. He formed this brand with a group of engineers who felt that they could craft better sounding products and more reasonably priced products as well. They chose to go about their tuning differently than many “other” brands. Hidizs emphasized natural listening and actual psychoacoustics… rather than chasing measurements. They studied how sound is perceived in different spaces like studios, open air, opera halls, and used what they’ve learned to guide and base their efforts in creating new products. Hidizs began more along the lines of pocket hi-fi daps and in 2014 came out with the very-very popular AP100. Next came products like the AP200, the AP80 series, and that soon turned into iems and other dac/amps. Let’s not forget their wildly popular Mermaid series, followed by their Sonata HD and S-series and of course the immensely adored MP series. I could keep going but I will try to be brief. I just want to remind the reader just how influential Hidizs has been over the years and remind you all who are crafting the MP145 Pro.

The MP145 Pro has Arrived! 

After waiting patiently for the MP145 Pro to arrive, they finally came and I instantly plugged them into my Hiby R6 Pro II 2025 and gave them a listen. The first thing I noticed is that the MP145 Pro is most certainly a set all its own. This is not a rehash of the original MP145 and Hidizs obviously aren’t trying to catch some easy money from the community. The tuning was well thought out, cleaner, more neutrality focused, and simply a more analytically tuned sound in comparison from the OG MP145. However, bear with me because I’ve had this set for a total of about three hours as I write this. Without question I am going to send the MP145 Pro to the burn-in station for a lengthy run-in. I’m shooting for five full days but will check periodically during that time. At any rate, there is a ton of competition in that $100 to $200 price point for planar magnetic earphones. For whatever reason, it’s at this price point that many of the planars hit the market. Many of the Letshuoer sets etc. This will be interesting for sure. Lord knows that I will need to recalibrate my brain as I’m coming from a bunch of warmly rendered iems. So, I have my work cut out for me. With that said, I’m ready to go folks. So, without further ado, the Hidizs MP145 Pro… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–Kickstarter  (Early bird special $159, limited to 300 units, $169 after that) 

Gear used for testing 

–Shanling UP6

–Shanling UA6 

–Ifi Go Blu

–BASN PA60

–Surfans X10 

–Hidizs S9 Pro Plus  

–Shanling UA7

–Shanling H0

–Hidizs AP80 Pro Max 

–Fiio JM21 

–Hiby R3 Pro II

–Hiby R6 Pro II 2025 

–Shanling M1 Plus

–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra 

–Fiio Q15

-Many more sources used including weaker Android 3.5 set phones, iPad, and a few weaker 3.5 se dongles

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing 

The Hidizs MP145 Pro arrived at my home in a decently sized square black box (5” x 5″ x  3 ¾”) with a picture of the “Gold” colorway version of the MP145 Pro on the cover along with other text. On the back you’ll see some specs as well. Not a bad looking box at all and absolutely not wasteful. Every square inch of this box is being used. So, take off the box top and right seat you’ll be met with the MP145 Pro sitting beautifully in cardboard covered foam cut-outs. Take that layer off and you’ll see the large assortment of eartips all laid out nicely in cardboard covered foam cut-outs and labeled per the eartips style. It’s a very nice addition to the package (more on that later). Lastly, once you remove that layer you’ll see the nice-looking light-blue leather square carrying case. Inside of the case you’ll find the cable, the cable adapters (3.5 & 4.4), as well as the tuning nozzles sitting in a very small and clear plastic case. Honestly, I love this package style. It’s compact, single layers, everything is easy to see and easy to get to as well. I think it’s a nice package with quality accessories. 

Eartips 

Like I said, Hidizs nicely provided a total of 12 pairs of eartips over four different styles of tips within the packaging. Once again, the eartips sit in a well displayed layer of cardboard covered foam within the packaging which labels each eartips style and sorts them from small, medium, to large for each style. The first set of three (S, M, L) are called “Vocal” tips. These are white silicone wide bore eartips with a rather flimsy flange and very much shallow fit too. I did not like these tips with the MP145 Pro. This set is vibrant enough and I didn’t like adding even more openness and vibrance in the upper mids. Definitely useful tips to have though. The next set of three (S, M, L) are Hidizs own Hidizs Anemone eartips. These tips are white silicone tips with a sea green stem, semi-wide bore, medium length, and extremely soft. As soft as the Divinus Velvet tips. The flange isn’t as rigid as I like, but I’ve used these tips on a number of occasions. Not bad at all. Next comes the “Balanced” eartips which are essentially KBear 07 tips in a different color. These are white silicone with a black stem, semi-wide bore, firm flange, rigid stem, and very nice. Lastly, Hidizs provides three (S, M, L) of their “Bass” tips. These are dark gray silicone tips with a narrow bore, and they are a longer set. Very nice as they are extremely rigid and firm. 

What tips did I use?

I actually went with a few different pairs of eartips with this set. I used the Dunu S&S eartips, I used Divinus Velvet Wide Bore tips, and a few others. However, I ended up simply using the Bass tips which come packaged with the MP145 Pro. It actually took me a while to get to that conclusion. I went from choosing wide bore eartips (which sounded great) but the fit simply didn’t do it for me. Also, I did want something to slightly dial back the upper mid area. Nothing too attenuating, just a hair. Then I tried the Dunu S&S tips which were nice because they have a deeper fit which often helps with some of those brighter resonances. The S&S tips definitely did help. However, I wasn’t quite where I wanted to be. I decided I needed deeper insertion eartips. Friends, this is after trying more tips than I care to admit. Anyways, I tried the Final Audio E-tips, and they worked well, but something was missing. Folks, it took me about an hour before I tried the “Bass” eartips which actually came packaged with the MP145 Pro. Ridiculous. I found that the Bass tips were perfect. During my time with this set I’ve used many different tips which you’ll see in some of the pictures. However, I did the great majority of critical listening with the Bass tips. It’s rare that I actually use the tips which come packaged with a set, nice. 

Carrying Case 

The case which comes packaged with the MP145 Pro is the first case that I’ve seen come with a Hidizs iem in quite some time. They usually always provide that cool little leather baggie. However, they added a very nice case. It’s actually hard to tell. Anyways, the case is a good size (3 ½” x 3 ½” x 2”) and can easily fit the earphones, the cable, the adapters, the tuning nozzles, plenty of eartips, and a small dongle dac. I know because I used this case a lot. Now, the case itself is a light blue case, likely faux leather but feels very nice in hand. Nice enough for me to seriously question if it is in fact “faux leather”. The case has some really nice stitching around the top and bottom. I like that the top has some padding under the faux leather cladding, making it soft. I also really like the strong magnet used to shut the case closed. It has a very nice magnetic force holding it closed. Inside of the case is a soft felt padding covering the entire I eternal side of the case. You also have a small mesh holder inside on the case top too. Good for putting adapters or tips. It’s definitely a very nice case and a great inclusion.

Tuning Nozzles 

I will very briefly speak on the three pneumatic tuning nozzles that Hidizs added into the packaging so to help dial in the sound more to your liking. Hidizs has often used tuning nozzles for this purpose. The nozzles are named “Silver”, “Rose Gold”, and “Red”. Each nozzle has its own unique mesh/damping filters of varying density which alters the air resistance into the driver chamber. Let’s check them out really quick.
 

Silver Nozzle

The Silver Nozzle is the brightest of the three nozzles and is also the most detailed, most transparent, and most precise nozzle. To add to that, it’s also the last musical of the three. This nozzle is for those treble lovers as it emphasizes the treble region as well as the upper midrange. Easily the most airy and open sounding. However, the Silver Nozzle is also the more fatiguing of the three with the thinnest note weight as well as the driest sounding of the three. I personally do not like this nozzle as much, but it does make for a very clinical and precision focused iem when attached. 

Rose Gold Nozzle

Hidizs refers to this nozzle as their balanced tuning of the three. In truth, it is a very nice sounding nozzle. You’ll have slightly more bass weight, some very subtle warmth, and some definite vocal prevalence with the Rose Gold Nozzle. 

In truth, if there wasn’t a Red Nozzle, then the Rose Gold Nozzle would be my favorite. Also, I did listen every now and again with this nozzle. The Rose Gold Nozzle still has some upper mid vibrance which can be a hair fatiguing for those sensitive to it. Still, the Rose Gold Nozzle is a very nice sounding filter with very nice balance and a very uplifting sound. Believe me, there are plenty of moments that I’ve replaced the Red Nozzles with the Gold nozzles for a very fulfilling listening session. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if more people enjoy the Rose Gold Nozzle the most. 

Red Nozzle 

The Red nozzle was added to give the listener a slightly warmer sound, more sublevel weight, and more of a musically gifted take on the tuning. Without question the Red Nozzle is my favorite of the three and in my opinion, it presents the most balanced take on the spectrum. I’d still call it neutral, yet with a touch of warmth and less upper mid luminance whilst not losing any of the great technical aspects of the MP145 Pro’s base tuning. I should also note that 95% of all critical listening was done using the Red Nozzle. 

Cable

The cable provided is definitely a solid addition. Not quite to the standard of the cable that came with the Hidizs MS5, but nice. To be exact, it is a white 4-core, 2-pin, braided modular cable which comes with two cable adapters in 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced connections. The cable is made out of 99.9% pure 6N single-crystal oxygen-free-copper (OFC) and plated in silver for better conductivity. This cable has got some nice width to it and doesn’t look cheap while looking great paired with the MP145 Pro aesthetically. I like that I never had to go through all of my cables trying to find a good sonic and aesthetic pairing being able to use the cable that came with the MP145 Pro. Once again, it’s another nice inclusion. It’s sounds great and looks nice too. Win-win. 

Build / Aesthetic / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

The Hidizs brand is synonymous with good build quality. Seriously, look at every product that comes from Hidizs, they are all extremely well built and all made from solid materials. The Hidizs MP145 Pro is made from aviation-grade aluminum alloy and brought on by a long and drawn-out process of multiple levels of 5-axis machining to get all of the layers carved out on the very intricate MP145 Pro whale tail faceplate and shells. I should note that just like the original MP145’s, the new version is absolutely huge too. However, the fit is fantastic as the weight distribution has been great. What’s wild is that the MP145 Pro weighs only 9.5 grams. I thought the same thing on the original as I do on this set, the build is genius. The acoustic structure inside is huge which I’m sure adds to the enormous soundstage. Hidizs also added in two large vents on the faceplates hidden in the whale tail design. However, I digress. The MP145 Pro is a very well built iem with exceptional quality for such a low cost. Built like a tank, and still lightweight and comfortable. Easily one of the best features of this set is the build quality. Fantastic job, once again Hidizs! 

Aesthetic/Design

This is one set which can say with 100% assurance that the build completely ties into the look and overall aesthetic. The entire design is so unique (besides the other two MP Series sets) to the audio world. No where can you find such an eccentric aesthetic that is also so intricately devised, artistically conceived, and the final product is nothing short of awesome. Every feature of the look has an acoustic quality which goes into the sound. Now, the MP145 Pro comes in three main colorways of Black, Dark Blue, and the Gold colorway that you see in my pictures. By the way, I am way more partial to the Gold colorway. Easily the most dope of the three. There is also a limited-edition titanium version of the MP145 Pro which costs a bit more and there are only 299 units being sold. So, if you want a titanium version with slightly altered sonics (due to the material) then you may want to try to pick that set up. Folks, take a moment and look at the design. Look at every step-down ridge of the faceplate, the curvature of the nozzle, and the pan out and look at the whale tail themed faceplates and tell me you aren’t impressed. Hidizs absolutely knocked the design out of the park once again.

Internals

As I said earlier, the Hidizs MP145 Pro had a single planar magnetic driver within its enormous shells. Hidizs calls the driver a 14.5 mm ultra-precision planar magnetic driver. Hidizs also states that they used 20-30% higher copper content than the MP145’s driver. Now, I don’t know the exact thickness of the driver, but Hidizs claims it has a nano-scale thin film diaphragm which is optimized for rigidity and control. Coated with increased copper traces to improve conductivity and reduce the overall mass enabling 0.05% THD and a 20-40khz range. This driver is actually a full symmetrical “1T” circuit a total of 14 magnets. That’s 7 for one side and 7 on the other of N54H neodymium high grade magnets which is said to have 40% more magnetic flux. Also, this set has a chamber design which is sonically aided by the whale tail inspired faceplates and its hidden breathing ports. Again, every aspect of this set ties together to make the final product what it is. Very well done Hidizs. 

Fit / Comfort 

As I said, the Hidizs MP145 Pro is a huge set of earphones. One thing which makes them bearable is the fact that it is made entirely out of aluminum, which also means that they are very light (9.5 grams). Also, the nozzles are quite long too which keeps the big shell body away from the ear just enough for the MP145 Pro to seat perfectly in the ear. Basically, what I’m getting at is that the MP145 Pro is very comfortable for me. I of course have zero idea how this set will fit your ears but if I had a guess I’d say they’d probably fit most people very well. So I wouldn’t let the large size fool you, this set was crafted in the shadow of another extremely comfortable iem, the MP145. 

Drivability / Pairings 

Sensitivity 

Friends, if any of you remember when planar iems first made their way into the market they were certainly harder to drive efficiently. Sets like the Tin Hifi P1 and others. You need a beefy device to bring them to their glory. Well, that is pretty much a thing of the past because the MP145 Pro is rated with an impedance of only 30 ohms and a sensitivity of 104 db’s. Now, it certainly isn’t the most sensitive set I’ve ever heard, but it is sensitive enough to drive reasonably well off of a simple smartphone. I can tell you this is true because I used my older Android phone and it performed better than I thought it would. I also used my older iPad, three older and very weak 3.5 se Conexant dongle dacs as well as the KZ AN01 (very weak). Each device replayed the MP145 Pro to good volume and good dynamics. Sure, the bass is a bit less controlled and defined, but overall, the experience wasn’t bad at all. What I’m trying to say is that if you do not have a powerful source then you should be fine until you can get one. 

More Juice

With all that said, please understand that the MP145 Pro will scale well with more clean power and better sources. Just like 99% of all planar sets, the MP145 Pro shines (in my opinion) with the more power that you provide it. Planars are somewhat unique in that respect though many sets of different driver configurations. I certainly noticed that the MP145 Pro rewards higher current amplification. I think of it like, “easy to drive, but excels when pushed”. Even just bumping up to a dongle dac like the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus will help to bring out those macro-dynamics and a blacker background. So, it doesn’t take much. Just find a decently powerful dongle dac with some push to it. Having said that, there is no doubt in my mind that the MP145 Pro shines best when using daps or more powerful dac/amps. One pairing that I absolutely adore is between the Hidizs MP145 Pro and the Hidizs AP80 Pro Max which is kind of “as it should be” being that both products carry the Hidizs branding. However, really a fantastic pairing. Moving up to the Shanling M6 Ultra is my favorite pairing of them all as the warmth and power of the M6 Ultra really drives this set beautifully. So, basically, give the MP145 Pro some decent and clean power. Preferably 150 mW @32 ohms (at least), use the 4.4 balanced connection, and then… enjoy. 

Sonic Pairings 

In my time with the MP145 Pro I have been able to use every last source device at my disposal. My sources range anywhere from warm to bright/cool. Now, the MP145 Pro ranges anywhere from warm/neutral to neutral/vibrant. Using the Red Nozzle the MP145 Pro sits right at that neutral tone with a slight hue of warmth to richen the sound. Using the Red Nozzle I found that any source from warm/neutral to neutral works best. Which, by the way, is a lot of sources. What I want in my source tonality for the MP145 Pro is something that will retain the detail and precision, not sand down the defined edges in a note, but also letting that planar speed bring those crisp edges and clean transient attack without coming across sharp or harsh. It’s “sharp” & “harsh” which I don’t enjoy. I have a multitude of sources with adequate power which range in that warm/neutral to neutral coloration and they all sound great paired with this set. Even when using the Gold Nozzle I would say the same; warm/neutral to neutral. Of course, everything comes down to your particular taste and what you subjectively enjoy. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I dive into the sound portion of this review I do have to add a few things. First, I did burn in the Hidizs MP145 Pro for roughly around five full days using pink & white noise, tones and sweeps, as well as a mix of different melodies meant for burn-in while running on a continuous loop. I found that burn-in subtly dialed back the upper mids and took some of the abrasive edges off in more rambunctious and vibrant passages of music. Also, the bass sounds a tad more precise and more focused (if that makes sense). I used the stock dark gray (narrow bore) eartips as well as the stock cable using the 4.4 balanced connection. Also, I used the Red Nozzle for the great majority of my listening. All of my critical listening was done using flac or better files which are stored on my devices. The Android music player of my choice is mainly UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro), Hiby Music Player (at times) for some daps, as well as Eddict Player for others

What’s It Sound Like? 

The Hidizs MP145 Pro is (in my mind) a more precise version of its predecessor, the MP145. I find it odd that I’m telling you that the Pro is actually cleaner, more resolving, and speedier, but it most definitely is. I thought the original MP145 was very clean, very tidy and refined, in fact I still do. However, the new MP145 Pro is without question a snappier, crisper, livelier version with a punchier dynamic thrust, more exact in note definition, more accentuated macro-dynamics than the OG. To my ears the MP145 Pro carries a very engaging sound juxtaposed to its clearly technical demeanor. If I were to call the sound anything, I’d say it has a V-shaped sound profile yet doesn’t overtly recess the midrange (just a tad) and does a fabulous job of keeping each area of the mix present, balanced, and immersive. The Hidizs MP145 Pro has an effortlessly textured sound that doesn’t come across abrasive or too edgy for my taste, listening volume (pretty darn loud), and my library. Typically, edgy planars will take on that metallic “planar” style timbre, but I can assuredly relay that the new MP145 Pro is planar-timbre-free with what I like to refer to as an “almost” neutral-natural sound. Certainly not perfectly natural as transients are ridiculously fast, tight, excellently controlled, with that fast twitch reflex ability making complicated tracks easy for this set. That isn’t perfectly natural to me. Natural and realistic sounds, instruments, or voices etc. have some subtle real-world harmonics, some overtones, and they don’t sound clipped. However, these are the shortcomings of trying to squeeze a world of dimensional sound stage out of 6mm nozzles. Brands have to get creative to manipulate your brain with psycho-acoustic trickery. At any rate, you will have some clipped overtones with this set. Also…I’m perfectly fine with that because the MP145 Pro sounds great. 

Musical… Technical? 

Now, this set is not going to be for the straight-up warm, richly weighted, top-end rolled-off, or ultra-smooth lovers. Those people are likely not going to fall madly in love with this analytically refined set with pinpoint accurate note detail and vibrant hues glimmering and providing uplifted and open levity to an otherwise warm/neutral and very well-tailored spectrum (with the Red Nozzle). The MP145 Pro is a set that certainly favors crisp-over-smooth note contours and is more agile and sprightly rather than densely full-bodied and musically inclined. Having said that, I have to say that Hidizs did a nice work in assuring that the MP145 Pro wasn’t without musicality and wasn’t without a smoother cadence. The way I look at it is this… This planar is simply fast folks. Hidizs couldn’t have crafted a musicality-first iem if they wanted to. Unless they buried the spectrum in warmth and rolled-off every last bit of air induced sparkling brilliance up top. This planar is fast (as planars are), and it shows it on every track. That said, Hidizs did manage to create a very engaging sound out of the MP145 Pro. As crisp and as clinical as it sounds, this set doesn’t eschew all rhythmicity and definitely carries enough fluidity to portray an emotional song with some of its own emotionality, and a groovy jam with some hip moving groove of its own too. I say all of that to say this; the MP145 Pro is nicely balanced dynamically, and fairly well balanced in smooth/crisp cadence and I don’t want you thinking that the MP145 Pro is all analytical dryness and crystalline note detail. It is that, but it’s also more than that. A well rounded planar and a solid buy at its cost.

New to Planars? Try the MP145 Pro! 

Let me just say that the MP145 Pro truly is one of the better planar magnetic sets for anyone who truly wants to hear a well-done version of a planar flavor. Someone who’s never heard a planar, never heard their speed, and has only ever delved into the dynamic driver world. Those folks would be good to choose a set like this. Granted, I know very well there are many planar sets which would be great for those new to planars. However, Hidizs managed to craft a set that fully takes advantage of all the technical wonder of this driver type whilst also crafting a very punchy sound. Now, if I’m being honest (always am), this tuning isn’t even my favorite. I favor warmly rendered musicality with touches of uplifting top end shine along with hard, and punchy bass, well defined, but musically engaging. I feel that the MP145 Pro fits that bill partially but also has the sonic ability to meander around very complex tracks without breaking a sweat and does many things very-very well. Basically, it’s an easy set to like. I’d say that for anyone who is thinking about the MP145 Pro, they should at least somewhat enjoy a more uplifted sound. Now, for treble lovers, bright lovers, or analytical junkies, this set is for you. Throw on the Silver or Gold Nozzles and enjoy life! No doubt, both of those nozzles run dead neutral to neutral/bright and will both illuminate every last detail, separate notes with a scalpel, and image the MP145 Pro’s well dimensioned & enormous stage as though you are lucid listening. Okay, that was a bit much. Again… this is a very easy set to like folks.

Pro

I think what the MP145 Pro brings to the table that the previous iteration is a more mature and audiophile rendition of the OG’s tuning. No doubt in my mind that when Hidizs set out to place that “Pro” moniker at the end of its name… they actually did try to create a “Pro” model. I could go through every frequency range and dissect exactly why I feel this way. However, to sum every range up and hopefully impart my thoughts in a quick way, I’d simply say that the MP145 Pro has better note control, better note clarity, more tonal contrast, better dynamic range, just as vast of a stage, and a more clean-lined sound without any of the negative side-effects that more budget sets would have. With any of the nozzles you’ll hear a mature sound as none of them deviate from the base tuning to such a degree that the sound signature changes completely. However, at least with the Red or Rose Gold nozzles I don’t typically hear any real glare or piercing sharpness. The control is too good. The MP145 Pro doesn’t carry those razor-sharp peaks that artificially boost certain frequencies. Hidizs knows better than that. Extension both ways is solid with no muddiness down low or smeared splashiness up top. Also, I have been pleased to hear that there is no overtly discernable sibilance or planar timbre. This is a pleasing set which has enough energy to excite, to stimulate the senses, and to enthuse my sessions. Yet it’s never so rambunctious that it adds unwanted harshness unless you are very sensitive. At which point I’d ask you why you are even looking at this set in the first place. At any rate, the “Pro” in its name is a fitting suffix.

Bass Region 

The bass is not elevated to the extent of the original but is also more defined and cleaner. This bass is all about discipline, and focused engagement, with some hard lined punch that is able to reach deep and is one of the higher quality bass presentations from any planar in its range. That is my opinion of course, but when you have a set which can slam to the level of the MP145 Pro (moderate), carry a solid bass drop, generate enough body for bass guitars and kick drums yet also dissect the fastest bass tracks around, you know you have a very skilled bass. I mean, tracks like “Anthem Pt. 3” by Blink-182 which features some incredibly fast drums, hits with force, each drum beat individually carved with a black background severing space between notes. So fast and realistically vigorous, compacted, hard lined and not softened at the crest of notes. I call it lean-density. That “lean muscle mass” type of quick reflex ability that lets you feel each drumbeat or wavy bass guitar riff without the smearing. Something that many sets are burdened with.

Bass Cont… 

One thing which easily impresses me is the MP145 Pro’s unique ability to sound both condensed in fundamental note weight as well as agile and dexterous. Having said that, this bass region is not going to be for those who deeply desire a more atmospheric sound. You aren’t going to get a dynamic driver depth and feel. Also, bass bois, bassheads, or bass focused lovers who prioritize ultra booming bass weight over speed and definition will not find the MP145 Pro’s bass quality as wonderful as I have. Those people are not listening for definition; they want the boom. The MP145 Pro is not going to appease those folks. You have to be okay with a “just-above-moderate” emphasis, sublevel focused, and not the focal point of the overall tuning. To add to that, the bass doesn’t enforce its warmth frequency wide. I hear just enough warmth to provide some believable midrange note weight and enough to counter some of the upper-mid/lower treble energy, but not enough to smoothen the mix or create a warmer atmosphere. Again, it’s tight, very well defined, as detailed as a bass can be at its cost and has enough slam to carry most genres decently well. 

Sub-Bass 

Using any nozzles the sub-bass seems to carry the brunt of the actual emphasis provided to this bass region, aiding my listening sessions with what sounds like “correct” weight, rather than window rattlin’ and eyelid shaking fun. This sublevel experience wasn’t to aimlessly please the guilty pleasure side in all of us. Nevertheless, I can testify that I have been well pleased. Now, using the Red Nozzles I hear plenty of juddering rumble with actual tactile presence and haptic energy. Decently palpable & physical chest thumps and vibrational feedback when a track calls for it. To me this is what makes this a quality sub-bass. Sure, it won’t be to the level of those bass hungry enthusiasts, but the sublevels also aren’t going to negatively affect the spectrum when a track doesn’t carry those deeper notes. I love a sub-bass which shows up only when called upon and the MP145 Pro does just that. One track that I was listening to shows this off well. That is “All My Life” by Falling in Reverse. This track has this persistent sublevel drone which follows the beat and is very penetrating with the MP145 Pro in my ears. However, that drone never covers or masks over vocals and instrumentation. When the sublevel drone is done, I hear no more influence from this region. The sub-bass promotes overall clarity for just this reason. Also, the sub-bass is very well separated from the mid-bass with distinct lines of separation in most tracks and is very fast, very tight, and hard-edged with nice dark vibrancy. No, the sub-bass won’t please bassheads, but it’ll surely please those who can respect a quality sublevel presentation. 

Mid-Bass 

The mid-bass is very similar in the way that I’d describe its influence across the mix, however the mid-bass does have a touch of tasteful bleed into the midrange. As far as emphasis, the mid-bass is more of a compliment to the sublevels as it has that bodied slam and enough boom to decently carry a good Hip-Hop bass drop, but it also will not appease bassheads. I’d call the emphasis right around moderate, coming in at just above neutral and never dominating the mix. Even with the slight bleed into the mids I never hear anything even remotely muddy, no bloom, no veil at all either. This is a clean mid-bass which offers enough body and weight to replay a solid bass guitar. Such as “South Dakota” by Chris Stapleton. I enjoy the dynamic energy of the bass guitar along with the bodied and guttural feel to its sound while remaining totally free of any masking. Chris’s voice cuts through very well. You should also know that kick drums generally sound very textured as I can easily hear the rebound of the skin, the hollow boom, the tacky initial strike and it is very satisfying to me in “Kick It” by Collective Soul. What’s more is that the deep bass guitar sounds awesome alongside the kick drums. Neither oversaturates the rest of the track and each stays in their lane. Again, when called upon the bass shows up, does its part, and upholds the integral clarity of the song. Also, just like the sublevels, the mid-bass easily handles complex bass arrangements with a realistic, highly texturized, and very palpable, albeit “moderately” emphasized weight. But man does it have solid note control. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

I think the one real issue that some hobbyists will have is going to be the lack of focus that the bass plays. On the MP145 Pro the bass is more of a working partner to the rest of the mix rather than a focus. Always staying tight and streamlined, textured, defined, and with great timbre quality. However, the bass is not going to truly satisfy in the weight department like some other equally priced planars. I mean, the Letshuoer S12 Ultra, S12 2024 Edition, etc. Those both have much deeper and more colored bass regions which have a much greater influence on the rest of the spectrum. Like I said, the Red Nozzle will supply your listening sessions with a good amount more of sublevel lift, yet it remains a measured partner. Other than those bass lovers, the only real complaint that I could find would be for those who really enjoy a more atmospheric bass. Remember, transients are quick across the mix and definitely tight in the bass region. There are so many moments (tracks) where I want to hear the harmonic and resonant trail in physically receding when following a booming kick, a gargantuan bass drop, etc. The MP145 Pro will slightly cut that short where you hear much more of the fundamental note rather than the overtones. Other than those things, this bass is far too mature, too clean, and too high of quality to name any other issues. 

Midrange 

The midrange on the Hidizs MP145 Pro is one which I’d call fairly natural in tonal accuracy and doesn’t stray too far from neutral in tone color. I hear only a very slight recession within this range putting male vocals slightly behind instrumentation at times. However, the midrange always has good presence. Vocals always sound nicely etched, and not in a grainy way. When using the Red Nozzles I hear a touch more weighted body than the other nozzles which means they carry a hair more bleed into the mids. What this does is adds a touch more body to notes. Having said that, the MP145 Pro’s midrange note weight will never be considered as “rich”. Perhaps the lower midrange gains the most as far as body and warmth, but never to the point that the MP145 Pro sounds lush. I actually find that the midrange does have a slightly drier sound than the original MP145, but it is also highly technical. Detail retrieval in the mids is excellent, even class leading is a good argument for this set. Instrument separation is aided by an airier sound when coupled with those faster transients. Also, the mids are very highly resolving with great transparency throughout the midrange. Vocals pop against the backdrop of a track, instruments carry some luster, some snap, and some bite too. This is a midrange which skews crisp over smooth yet doesn’t ever come across etched or too thin. Even with the less robust note body, the mids have such nice clarity that they are very well outlined making them sound denser, more compacted and cleaner. Also, I never feel that the mids are too vibrant. Sure, they have shimmer and some luminance, but they generally don’t devolve into straight-up glare. 

Lower-Midrange 

Like I said, the lower midrange certainly has a touch of bleed from the low-end slightly enriching instruments and male vocalists to sound a bit more bodied than the rest of the mids. I’d say that with the Red Nozzle the lower-mids sit just behind the bass region though they never sound truly recessed to my ears. These enriched instruments and vocals always come with great transparency. Stuff like piano which sounds very tuneful, and every last harmonic complexity is brought to the surface. Shoot, on a few tracks I could hear that sweet felt hammer striking the strings. Or guitar, which has that nice abrasive edge with the MP145 Pro. I usually can make out every pluck and every last finger slide heard loud and clear. I could keep going folks. The point is that even with the bleed and touch of warmth the lower midrange loses nothing on its clarity. In fact, to my ears I’d say that presence is very bold in this region. Males capitalize the most as they generally sound weighted enough to have some substance to their voices. Like Lewis Capaldi in “Someone You Loved” as his vocals cut through everything, edgy at the crest, harmonious in tone and altogether melodious. Another is Noah Guthrie in “Blue Wall” which comes across pronounced to my ears and nice timbrally as well. Having said all of that, I typically enjoy a hair more warmth in the low-mids. Which isn’t a strike against the MP145 Pro but rather a compliment being that I’ve enjoyed male vocalists on this set very much. 

Low Mids Cont… 

I should note that with the Rose Gold Nozzle (and to an extent the Silver Nozzle) you will get a slightly less warm and enriched sound in this region, but instead it comes across even more analytically sharp and focused. Albeit it also comes across a hair thinner too. However, I have zero issues with the Rose Gold Nozzle. As a matter of preference, I choose the slightly warmer Red Nozzle. Still, Hidizs made sure that each nozzle performs well according to the target. In fact, I spent many sessions with only the Rose Gold nozzle attached and after a few minutes my brain totally adapts, and I really like the presentation. Certainly, a cleaner sound, with an airier feel and more perceivable note separation. Granted, these are fairly small differences between nozzles, but they are differences nonetheless and you should go through each nozzle to find what fits you the best. 

Upper-Midrange 

Most definitely it is the upper-mids which come across the most pronounced, the most forward, and clearly the focal point of this iem. This is a region which sits in front of just about everything (depending on the recording). This can be a dangerous thing. Meaning… if not tuned carefully an upper-mid heavy iem can quite easily turn into a glare fest. Of course, we aren’t talking about some “brand new” brand here. This is Hidizs folks. They’ve had a few sets of late (MS2 Pro, MS10, MK12 etc.) which take my ears right to the brink of comfort, yet plateau in brilliance, sounding much more controlled and tastefully vibrant than glaring. The MP145 Pro is exactly that. Tastefully luminant with copious amounts of air providing a perceivably wider and vaster stage, a more dimensional sound field, more obvious and discernable layering in all directions and more distinct imaging. When you couple that airy and open sound with clean-lined & cleanly etched notes, lean-density, and fairly crisp note outlines… what you have is an analytically based sound that isn’t devoid of engagement. Basically, not too thin or dry, not plasticky, and not unflavored. 

Females

The upper midrange is generally the place where females reside. Coincidentally, I have many-many female led tracks that I test with and many that I enjoy. I’m sure that many of you are the same. To my ears the upper mids are present enough to give female vocals and instrumentation (guitars, brass etc.) proper articulation and bite yet smoothened enough that glare and sibilance are kept at bay and not an issue. Females have that nicely vibrant inflection offering female voices that sweet levity and forwardness to really help their vocals to sound embossed against the rest of the melody. Females like Laufey in “Serendipity”. My word does her voice, the backing piano, and the entire atmosphere of this track sound utterly awesome on the MP145 Pro. This set has that neutral-natural and forward portrayal of the mix which very well suits a less energized but also very romantic and vocally beautiful voice such as Laufey’s. With the MP145 Pro you can hear how complex even a simple track like this can be with its well-developed harmonics and how well her voice and every intonation is brought forward. The ambient decay and subtle reverb in her voice is magnified because of the MP145 Pro’s ridiculously vast stage as well which is simply nice to hear. I don’t know how else to say it…she sounds awesome. Another very similar atmospheric track is “Birds” by Dominique Fils-Aimé. Folks, once again the MP145 Pro absolutely owns this track. I could give you sprightlier female led tracks which sound very nice too, but I couldn’t help myself. Birds is one track that shows off the MP145 Pro’s tuning. Enough for me to say that female vocals sound flat-out awesome on this set using any of the nozzles. 

Glare? 

Of course, there are also some tracks where the brighter inflections are exaggerated a touch more. I always use the track “The Otherside” by Cam. I use this track because her beautiful voice has this way of glaring the upper mids. Especially at louder volumes. Another is “Sensitive” by Megan Trainor. There are moments in both women’s vocals which strike the right frequency to inflict momentary harshness. With the Silver Nozzle on the MP145 Pro I definitely wasn’t enjoying my session. I checked these tracks in particular with the Silver Nozzle to see where the comfort cut-off was for the MP145 Pro. Folks, I’m not sensitive to glare at all. I can take very brilliant and bright sets fairly well, but these tracks along with a few others were a hair too bright for me. Particularly with the Silver Nozzle and some with the Rose Gold Nozzle as well. In truth, it was the Red Nozzle which handled everything best without losing any clarity or technical acuity. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

I think I just spelled out the biggest gripe that some will have with the midrange. That is, it can sound a hair too bright in some recordings when using the Silver Nozzle and even sometimes the Rose Gold Nozzle. Of course, I’m thinking of those sensitive to glare and brighter sounds. Like I said, I can take brighter sets on glare inducing tracks and not really be bothered too much, but I am definitely in the minority there. There were moments of the Silver Nozzle being a bit too much for me. Other than that, I can say with assurance that those warm midrange lovers who greatly enjoy a more rich and lush presentation and who don’t need a technically capable sound will probably not want to fork over the money to buy this set. While the Red Nozzle does add some more sublevel weight and a touch more warmth, it never truly provides that rich timbre. Not like these folks would want. Even with the Red Nozzle the sound is still very airy and open and vibrant. Beyond those things I feel that the great majority of listeners would probably enjoy how the MP145 Pro does the midrange. Highly technical, exceptionally detailed, clear note separation, with a well dimensioned sound field and timbre which is quite nice to the ear. A very melodic version of an analytical sound. 

Treble Region 

The treble region is one which has what I’d call a relaxed-articulated sound that carries the right amount of bite on snares, cymbals & hi-hats, vocals etc. and does so without that aggressive sheen to the sound. Basically, the treble has some brilliance, airy sounding, and well extended but not harshly aggressive and not too abrasive with its bite. It has some nice treble punch without the sharpness and comes across very resolving. Just like the rest of the mix the treble region also has those faster, more tightly controlled transients. To my ears, due to those faster transients the MP145 Pro does a nice job of cleanly replaying complicated tracks. You’ll notice clean etching around most treble notes creating very well textured highs without anything coming across grainy or abrasive. It’s a treble which is certainly uplifted and exuberant, very well energized, good macro-dynamic expression, and also pretty vivid, but also well composed and not artificially boosted. I hear excellent transparency in the treble region. However, there is also a smoother cadent flow to this region too. I find that Hidizs tuned this set with a nice balance in that regard. Not too edgy, not too brightly lit, somewhat smoother in cadence, nice separation and a black background. I definitely wouldn’t say that treble heads would love this treble with the Red or Rose Gold Nozzles attached, though the Silver Nozzle might just have enough vivacious energy, extension and clean bite for them. 

Timbre, Tonality

The treble region of the MP145 Pro also has decent enough tonality & timbre along with sufficient emphasis to carry this region convincingly, as I said earlier. Hidizs tuned the MP145 Pro’s highs to have enough lift to provide some levity frequency wide. Certainly, some brighter coloration bleeds into the midrange providing snares or cymbal crashes with that hard edged snap. The treble aids violins giving them just enough sweet abrasive texture. Also, vocals sound controlled in the highs, and rarely sound too radiant in treble energy. This isn’t the type of treble timbre which sounds artificially bright or edgy. Everything stays composed & controlled up top. I definitely hear a treble timbre and tonality which sounds uplifted and sparkly too. If I would describe transients in any way I’d say that they have a crisp attack followed by a smooth decay. You see, with all the measured brilliance there is also a subtly relaxed and less fatiguing sound. Timbre is pretty nice folks. 

Technically Speaking 

One thing is clear about the Hidizs MP145 Pro, and that is its high technical ceiling which seems to be sky high. You get top class detail retrieval, resolution, separation, as well as excellent layering of the sound field within a treble that doesn’t seem to ever congest or smear. Which is quite impressive. Of course, you have to be okay with this type of tuning, but I cannot find many faults at all when it comes to technical ability on the MP145 Pro’s treble. Listen to any Billy Strings track with the MP145 Pro and you’ll know what I’m talking about. One track I always seem to speak on is “Ice Bridges” which has those lightning-fast guitar picks, mandolin play, and banjo runs and the MP145 Pro doesn’t miss a step. Every last note has its own atmosphere with good separation between notes and very fine lined micro-dynamic volume shifts sounding fairly easy to spot. Especially on less complicated tracks than “Ice Bridges”.  Another track which fully displays the MP145 Pro’s technical capabilities is “Fuel” by Metallica. Whether it’s James Hetfield’s vocals, crashing hi-hats, or that absolutely screaming electric guitar work, this track poses a problem to any set which claims to be a technically capable iem. The MP145 Pro handles every last note well. Sure, like any set there are moments which are more difficult to pick apart, but for the most part the MP145 Pro resolves every last attack through sustain transient cleanly and without treble muddiness. Also, extension into the upper treble is darn good. Timbre in the upper treble is more natural without any crazy splash or treble tizz. Altogether, the treble is pretty nice folks. 

Nozzles

Of course, you should know that the more treble head version of this set will come while using the Silver Nozzle (as I said earlier). I find the Red Nozzle that I use to be more relaxed and catered more towards musical engagement rather than pinpoint precision and brilliant hues. So definitely be aware that there are some differences there. I like the Red Nozzle because it still takes me right to the brink of comfort and also remains very energized and technically proficient while coming across smoother, more relaxed, and less bright. The Silver Nozzle and in many ways the Rose Gold Nozzles will certainly provide that upper mid to treble focused sound. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

The biggest gripes about the treble is likely to come from those who are true-blue warm heads who desire a less sparkly and vibrant treble region. You’ll either like the MP145 Pro’s highs or you won’t. I’ve told you what you are getting though. Highly technical, exceptionally detailed, clear note separation, great extension, transient tight, and good note bite within a smoother cadent flow. It’s a very nice treble folks. I feel that it’s best with the Red Nozzle, but many might disagree. However, those who cannot take a more brilliant sound are really not going to like this set. Plain and simple. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage 

This brings us into one of the most lauded and praised aspects of this series and one of the real reasons that the MP145 OG was as popular as it was. No doubt it needed to be tuned well, but it also has a soundstage that bucked the planar trend of sounding like a 2-dimensional flat plane of sound in front of the listener. The MP145 is very vast, very wide, tall, and deep. Can I tell you all that the MP145 Pro is just as wide, just as tall, and just as deep. It’s enormous for an iem. Enormous! Granted, these are iems… so temper your expectations. Still, for an in-ear monitor the MP145 Pro has that vast atmosphere. It has this huge aluminum acoustic cavity creating a very big stage with a ton of air along with fantastic clarity leading to even better layering of the sound field and topped-off with focused and tidy transients. The stage size and dimensional ability is the true binding agent which brings this entire tuning together and makes it what it is…A wonderful psycho-acoustically rendered 3D stage. For the cost of the MP145 Pro… it is awesome. Of course, many planar sets are following suit and creating pretty vast stages of their own, but the MP145 Pro remains the pinnacle of “under $250” planar stage presence and size. Hidizs did a wonderful job once again. I have a very hard time saying the new Pro version has the grander experience between the two Hidizs MP145 sets, but I’ll just whisper it to you all from the side of my mouth… “The MP145 Pro has the best planar stage available under $250 (and probably more)”. Oh… These are only my opinions.

Separation / Imaging 

You already know what I’m about to say and so I won’t go crazy adding even more word salad to an already ridiculously long review. However, friends, the MP145 Pro excels in instrument separation. Absolutely excels! This set has a black background and that planar driver is blazing fast with solid dynamic agility and presence creating very cleanly outlined notes and distance between those notes…perceivably. A ton of air, it’s open sounding, it has luminance (even with the Red Nozzle), you already know the transients are tidy making notes distinct and crisp enough. Separation is great. Imaging is the same. All elements of the stage are in their place whether panning left to right or even front to back. That should tell you that layering is pretty special as well. You have top to bottom and front to back layering which is even better than the MP145 Pro’s predecessor as this time the sound is even cleaner and even easier to distinctly discern those layers without as much bass focus masking those finer details. Nuff said, the MP145 Pro excels in all technical disciplines. 

Detail Retrieval 

Again, the MP145 Pro really does a solid job of always keeping a clean canvas for details to emerge. To add to that, the MP145 Pro has the illumination and semi-brilliant upper end tuning to draw those details to the surface even easier. Let’s put it this way, I don’t think you will miss any of the subtleties in your music with this set. Furthermore, the MP145 Pro is not only going to clearly render all finer details, but it will also show you every flaw in every recording. Especially if you have a clean source. You’ll hear it all folks. Definitely, the MP145 Pro is especially great at detail retrieval. 

Comparisons

Hidizs MP145  ($129)

The Hidizs MP145 is without question one of the most legendary iems to hit the market in years. More so than the Blon BL-03, more so than the 7hz Timeless, and so many other standard changing iems. It’s the MP145 which helped to shape what a planar can sound like. Truly a fantastic iem. I don’t want to downplay what the MP145 was for the hobby. The beautiful thing is that Hidizs didn’t try to usurp the MP145 with this newer MP145 Pro but instead made the Pro… different. At any rate, I reveiwed the MP145 (MP145 Review) all the way back in 2023 when it was first introduced to the world and was there to watch its ascension into the stratosphere. So much so that I could convincingly say that… “I called that”. Lol. I knew it would be a standard bearer, and I was very pleased to be able to review that set. Once again, as you all know, the MP145 is also a planar magnetic earphone and once again it is the predecessor to the set I’m reviewing today. Let’s check out some differences. 

Non-Sound Stuff

To start, the package and accesories which come with the newer MP145 Pro are much better. You get a much better modular cable, you actually get a carrying case (and a damn good one at that), and you get more eartips too. As far as build, these two are almost identical except that the new MP145 Pro has upgraded internal cavity optimizations and has better airflow. Both sets weight about the same and both have the same dimensions. However, the MP145 Pro does have a slightly more ergonomic contour to the build. Both sets have tuning nozzles, and both are absolutely striking in design. Of course, the newer model is more intricately carved with a more 3D whale-tail faceplate design. Hidizs does mention that they used 20-30% more copper in their driver design and they upgraded their magnets used from N52 in the OG MP145 to N54H magnets in the Pro model. Which is pretty substantial. 

Sound Differences 

To begin, the OG has a more bold and more bullish bass presence. Of course, the new Pro model is almost reference grade mature and clean as opposed to slightly looser on the OG. Both have solid bass replays, but the Pro keeps much tidier reigns on the sound. If you want a more fun V-shaped bass than the OG is the way to go however. The midrange of the Pro is cleaner, more neutral, better separation, and better detailed with a slight possibility of more fatigue in the upper mids. The OG is smoother, more forgiving, probably more musically rendered, but also less technically capable. The Pro model really is a mature and audiophile version of the OG. In the treble the Pro model is somehow even more controlled, crisp, but also smoother too. The OG had some grain, some sibilance, and some abrasive qualities. Even with the more emphasized Pro treble, it is simply cleaner and better by most metrics. Better detailed, better bite, better separation of notes, and slightly better extension. Though, I wrote in my notes that the “extension” comment is debatable. As far as technicalities, the Pro version is better in all aspects. The only comparable technical ability would be the soundstage and its overall size and grandness. 

Final thoughts on this comparison 

Both are flat-out awesome per their tuning target. If you read above, it will sound like I’m saying the Pro version is much better than the OG. However, I didn’t say that at all. The truth is that they’re differently tuned. Both serve a valid place in the hobby and in the market. In truth, I’d say the OG MP145 is the more musical and fun set. Also, it isn’t devoid of great technicals either. It performs very well. However, like I’ve said a few times, the Pro version is the more mature and audiophile version. 

Letshuoer S12 Ultra  ($169)

The next set that I was asked to compare is the Letshuoer S12 Ultra (S12 Ultra Review). The S12 Ultra happens to be the last and final iem within the S12 series and seemingly the culmination of all that Letshuoer had learned about the planar tech. I think we can all admit that of there was a best planar brand, it’s probably Letshuoer. They have the most planar sets, and they always hit the market with a ton of fanfare. The S12 Ultra is just the last one to do it. However, I have to say before I dive into this comparison that the S12 Ultra is also very different from the MP145 Pro. In fact, I’d call it polar opposites. So, be ready for that. The S12 Ultra is also a planar magnetic set of earphones with a slightly larger 14.8 mm driver and a much more compact design. Let’s check out some differences. 

Non-Sound Stuff 

As far as packages, these two are very close. However, the MP145 Pro comes with a much better case and many more eartips, including the Hidizs Anemone tips. I do like the S12 Ultra’s modular cable a hair more, but both are very nice. Also, the S12 Ultra comes with a their DT01 3.5 type-c dongle dac as well (Psst… I didn’t use it at all). Package goes to the MP145 Pro. Looking at the build, the MP145 Pro is much larger than the S12 Ultra. I mean, like two of the S12 Ultra’s side by side. Well, I may have taken that a bit far, but you get the gist. It’s much bigger. The funny thing is that the MP145 Pro actually fits my ears better. It’s all about the nozzle angle for me. Both fit well, but the MP145 Pro is comfier and only a tad heavier. As far as design/aesthetic, I have to say that the MP145 Pro is much more artistically crafty with a much more intricate design, but I do like the S12 Ultra’s simply aesthetic. Both are great. Also, the MP145 Pro actually has three tuning nozzles to help dial in the sound further while the S12 Ultra does not. 

Sound Differences 

I’ll make this fairly short and sweet. Basically, the S12 Ultra is a far cray from the technical mastery of the MP145 Pro. It’s a much more musically inclined iem with a bass focused and very warm sound. The MP145 Pro is obviously much closer to neutral, more analytically savvy, much better detailed and a cleaner sound overall. Folks, these two sets are the epitome of a “preference battle” as they are simply so different from each other. Both do a very nice job of achieving a solid sound per their target tuning and both show off just how far reaching the tonal aspects of a planar driver can reach. The MP145 Pro is better in every technical aspect of sound. Much better note separation, detail retrieval, better imaging clarity, bigger soundstage, and transients are perceivably much tighter. The S12 Ultra is a much richer, much warmer, and fun bassy set with no chance at fatigue at all. Again, both are great per their respective tuning styles, but very different. 

Final thoughts on this comparison 

Two distinct styles, two awesome tunings, and two sets which are easily worth the cost of ownership. It comes down to your individual preferences and what you enjoy. Do you like warm, robust bass with a milky midrange and a laid-back treble? Or do you enjoy a sprightly and energetic sound, highly technical with a lively treble and a fast punchy bass? I like them both. 

Genres

Before I dive too deep into what genres work, and which don’t necessarily work well with the MP145 Pro, I first want to add in some fairly obvious caveats to my thoughts. Basically, I’ll give you some genres which typically work great and work with the MP145 Pro’s tuning. However, these are very broad generalizations and in every better genre you will certainly find some outliers which don’t sound quite as great. Also, it’s the same for those genres which I don’t feel fit the MP145 Pro as well. Some of those tracks will sound amazing. We generalize so much in this hobby but in truth it is a hobby full of nuance that sometimes gets grossly overlooked. 

Genres Which Work

In my opinion, I have a few genres which could go either way depending on your nozzle choice. However, I am going to give you my thoughts about the Red Nozzle. First off, anything Acoustic works wonderfully for me. I love simple acoustic tracks with this set. Also, anything Singer-Songwriter usually sounds fantastic with the MP145 Pro’s clean and semi-natural timbre and open sound. Any Rock music typically sounds great too. The balanced and tidy sound let’s instruments breathe so well. Very crisp outlines distinctly replay these types of tracks without embellishing the brighter moments too harshly. Jazz is also really nice as the midrange has just enough smoothness, bass and horns generally have realistic note body (not too thin), and everything sounds very well textured. Also, R&B actually comes across excellent. The sublevel weight and overall clarity are great for those intimate tracks. Metal music is a mixed bag and totally depends on your Metal preference. At times the upper end can sound a hair hot in more exuberant thrashing guitar moments. That said, the cleanliness of the MP145 Pro is able to keep up with everything so very well. However, like I said, for every good genre you may also have one track which doesn’t come across as wonderful. These are very generalized observations. 

Not So Great Genres

To start, Hip-Hop is not perfect for the MP145 Pro as it subtly lacks the bass weight necessary to properly pull off a typical Hip-Hop track. Of course, to go against that there are many tracks which sound just fine. However, generally, the MP145 Pro is not perfectly suited for a bass focused genre. Also, EDM sounds very clean with this set, and those faster passages of music come through crystal clear, but again, the lack of actual physical bass weight and fullness will seem lacking. Also, some of the Hardcore stuff or Drum & Bass stuff will also sound lacking for the same reasons as the mid-bass is a hair too polite for my tastes. Obviously, folks, there are many more genres that I could include but I’m not about to sit here and list out every last one of them. These are simply quick templates for you to consider. 

Last Words on the Hidizs MP145 Pro 

Well folks, another Hidizs review is in the books and another banger of a set too. Hidizs has done a wonderful job with their MP series, and they’ve attached it to a wonderful cause too. I have been very impressed with this set friends. It’s hard not to be. For the cost you’d be very hard pressed to find an iem with a more clinically precise sound that is more technically efficient in its range while also coming across as engaging and immersive as the MP145 Pro. Of course, I don’t think that this set will be for everyone. That is something that we should all understand well. Nothing is for everyone and not everyone is going to find the joy that I can find in the MP145 Pro. This is a set which comes to Kickstarter with a ton of fanfare and expectations and I’m sure Hidizs was well aware that they’d have to really come with something special in order to truly wow the audio community. In this respect I totally understand why they changed up the tuning as much as they have. They obviously couldn’t do a rehash, rinse-repeat tuning and expect the community to jive with the Pro version. Like I said earlier in this review, Hidizs truly did make a more reference grade and mature sounding set with top tier technicals which truly takes on the “Pro” moniker very well. Again, I am very impressed folks. This is a set that is easily worth the cost of ownership if you dig the tuning style and it will be one which gets talked about as one of the more precise sets in its range as well. Just a fantastic job Hidizs. 

The Why… 

Because the MP145 Pro has a very nice package full of solid accessories that makes sense for the iem that it is. Many eartips, a great carrying case (seriously a nice one), and a solid modular cable that “didn’t” force me to swap to another cable. Just a nice and non-wasteful packaging. The build is top notch. Just like the previous MP145, the aluminum build is something to see. Absolutely gorgeous, enormous, so intricately designed and built along with a very capable planar driver. The look is dope, and the fit is very nice for my ears. Lastly, it is always about the sound folks. Absolutely Hidizs knocked this one out of the park for its tuning style. For anyone who enjoys a nicely balanced analytical sound which still carries a healthy amount of emotionally engaging musicality then the MP145 Pro should be on your short list. The bass is very tight, very well defined, well separated, and very fast with a deep sub-bass drone and a very punchy style. Next, the mids have great presence, lean density style note weight, very much vibrant with expressive macro-dynamics, highly technical, enormous sound field, and vocalists sound far better than I would’ve thought. Also, the treble sparkles, it has bite, it has that tight treble punch, along with some very distinct and well-defined notes. Furthermore, the treble has great extension, and the best is that the MP145 Pro generally never sounds overtly fatiguing. The MP145 Pro excels olin all technical aspects of sound as well. Top level detail retrieval, clarity, transient quickness, and wonderful sound separation and layering. Add to that the soundstage is absolutely huge. It’s wide, deep, and tall and clearly offers the vastest stage of any planar that I’ve heard under $250.

MP145 Pros

-Build Quality

-Price to Performance

-Nice Accessory Package

-Tuning nozzles really do change up the sound very well (I am partial to the Red Nozzle)

-Very clean tuning, very technically proficient

-Tight and very punchy bass, deep sublevel rumble. Authoritative yet controlled

-Midrange is highly detailed, airy, transparent, and carries great female vocals. Fairly natural with some nozzles and very coherent

-Treble is sparkly, semi-brilliant, and great extension

-Detail retrieval

-Imaging

-Soundstage is top tier in its class

-Scales very well with clean and more powerful sources

MP145 Cons

-Large sixe will be an issue for some smaller ear folks

-Analytical sound will not be for those warm, rich lovers

-Bassheads need not even check this set out

-Upper midrange can get pretty bright and glaring with Silver Nozzle and even the Rose Gold Nozzle for sensitive listeners

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature of the Hidizs MP145 Pro I first need to thank the awesome people over at Hidizs Audio for providing the MP145 Pro. I’ve said it many times in every review that Hidizs is one of my favorite groups to deal with. They are always very accommodating, very helpful, and kind and never ask anything out of me that would betray my integrity. For that I cannot thank you enough. Also, I couldn’t leave this review without thanking you, the reader. I know you probably gloss over this section, and you probably think that I’m just blowing smoke, but I truly mean it when I say that you are the largest reason for my writing and for mobileaudiophile.com’s success. It always means the world to our small website. Thank you. 

Other Perspectives 

I hardly feel that I need to say this and so I’ll keep it short but… please take the time to read, watch, or listen to other perspectives about this set. It’s true that I give you my exact thoughts with every review and I do try to explain myself as best I can. However, I am not the next guy. We are all so vastly different at times and each of us can have vastly different preferences. There’s so many reasons why one review may not read like another. Just like the consumer all has different tastes, well so do reviewers. So please check out some other thoughts on this fine set. With that, I’m done folks. So, please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!!