Disclaimer:
The Hidizs MS1 Rainbow was sent to me as a review sample from Hidizs, for which I thank them!
It is a model now out of market and also out of production, as it is out of stock on the official website. However, you can still find some units in different stores. The Hidizs Rainbow cost so much as soon as they entered the market—65 USD at full price. In this price range, we currently have the EPZ Q5 or the Simgot EW200 (coming soon), which have literally dominated the scene.
But if we consider the new price they can be found at 28 USD, then it can still be very interesting.
However, the review will still be 100% honest and, in no way, biased.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.
So I’m not going to use super-technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
P.S. : I apologize if the photos are of lower quality than usual but there has been no natural light where I live for more than a week due to rain or fog. I am gearing up to increase the quality of indoor photos.
Tech Specs:
- High-Performance Dual Magnetic Circuit Dynamic Driver
- 10.2mm Biocomposite Diaphragm
- Inline Control & Microphone
- High-Density German Makrolon Resin Shell
- 4N OFC Silver-Plated Wire
- 0.78mm 2-Pin Plug
- Ergonomic Liquid Silicone Ear Tips
- Ergonomic Design with Comfortable Extended Wear
- Perfectly Aligned With The H-2019 Target Frequency Response Curve
- 3.5mm Gold-Plated Plug, Durable Metal Shell & Splitter
- Hi-Res Certification
Packaging:
The MS1 Rainbow has more luxurious and robust packaging.
Inside, we find:
- 3.5mm 4N OFC Silver-Plated Wire + mic and volume buttons
- 6 pairs of tips
- Carrying bag
- Manual and Warranty
The cable is of clearly higher quality, and the finish of the jack and the splitter is noticed immediately. About tips, I would have expected more; the Wide Bore set is good, while the more classic ones do not do justice to the set.
If you consider the old list price, perhaps the tips could be better.
Design/Build quality:
The design is the same that we have already seen in the review of the Galaxy MS1, and the shell is exactly the same but with a less elaborate faceplate. Its shape is very standard Hidizs, and it fits you really well. What we can see is that the 10.2mm DD with bio-composite diaphragm has a thickness at least double that of the Galaxy. Obviously, its quality is higher in everything; from the photos, you can see the differences.
On the shell, we find two ventilation holes, the first near the connector and the other in front of the DD, which is then a filter. From the macro, I seem to see a filter applied above the DD, a solution that I don’t see often.
I must admit, on the design side, I was more surprised by the Galaxy, whose launch price was only 12 USD.
Comfort/Fit:
Since the Hidizs MS1 Rainbow and the Galaxy MS1 are identical in terms of comfort, I would like to share my thoughts on the previous review:
“The MS1 Galaxy is extremely comfortable. I don’t think you will have any problems with the shell or nozzle size. Both the ear-hook and the cable are flexible, allowing for any positioning. The tips are pretty good and soft, so you might have some issues with them, but I doubt it. The size L tips were incredibly comfortable, but if I had to swap them out, I would suggest the Kbear/Nicehck 07, which are inexpensive but very good. Above all, try to keep your total spending under $20, including spare tips.”
I must say that the tips present on the MS1 Rainbow are slightly less elastic and flexible.
Initial sound impression:
The Hidizs MS1 Rainbow immediately appears V-shaped; the bass descends well and the upper has a good presence. Airside does not seem to me to be exciting. There is immediate superiority compared to the DD present in the Galaxy, which, however, seems to have a more developed soundstage.
Final sound impression:
Equipment used for testing above
Device:
- iMac
- Redmi Note 7 Snapdragon
- Poco M4 Pro Mediatek
Software:
- Foobar2000 24bit 192kHz (iMac)
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz (Both)
- Tidal Hifi Plus
DAC:
- Less Da1 (AK)
- Less Da2 (AK) (more balanced pairing)
- Moondrop Dawn Pro ( Great pairing)
- Hidizs S9 Pro Plus (ESS)
- Hidizs S9 pro (ESS) (warm pairing)
- Hidizs S3 pro (full review coming soon)
- Muse Hifi M4 (Most Versatility)
- Ibasso Dc04Pro (Dual Cirrus) (Best pairing)
- EPZ TP20 (Dual Cirrus)
- EPZ TP30 (Dual ESS)
I focused on R&B, pop, and EDM music, which I think are the most suitable genres for this type of IEM.
I had an identical Hidizs cable in the house as the one included with the Hidizs MS1 Rainbow but with a 2.5mm balanced terminal, so I decided to try them first with a balanced output with Hidizs S9 Pro but I must admit that they need very little power to immediately reach absurd volumes so I don’t feel like recommending a balanced cable with them.
By raising the volume, the sound pressure becomes quite intense, especially the trebles, which become quite sharp but not sibilant.
Since the amplification of the smartphone is necessary, very little power is more than enough.
At the initial price, I think they have not created any kind of hype but if you find them at a good price, I feel like recommending them compared to the Galaxy.
Bass
The bass is “thicccc” and pretty clean and with no bleed; the sub-bass is still elevated but with a little bit of roll-off. The bass is really authoritative, even at low volume. It is absolutely not a set for relaxing music or classic genres. I must admit that the bass is truly enjoyable, especially because of its heaviness. Not the fastest but the punch affects your eardrum.
Mids
I was not particularly surprised by the mids. They are obviously somewhat recessed, if not overly so, but there is a lack of shading; the voices are also a little unnatural, and there may be a little consistency lacking. Their superiority over the MS1 Galaxy is evident, but the assessment shifts when we take the MS1 Rainbow’s cost into account.
It has a warm and slightly nasal shade. The musical instruments are not all pleasant in the same way. Guitars and bass sound quite correct, while the cymbals have a somewhat dampened sound.
Treble
Since the low frequencies are more present, the highs also have a greater presence to balance everything. They can become very sharp at high volumes but are not sibilant. What’s missing, in my opinion, is air.
On the soundstage side, we are at monitor level; the sound goes slightly out of your ears. Separation and discreet but not an excellent image. It is a non -cheap driver but still a little dated; it was probably not so bad. What is missing is a bit of extra resolution but the quality and separation are better than the new Galaxy.
Comparison:
Can the Hidizs MS1 Rainbow compete with current models?
A more legitimate comparison would have been possible by taking something released in the same period but I hope that some current comparison will give you the opportunity to evaluate a possible purchase.
vs MS1 Galaxy
The MS1 Galaxy has a more mass-pleasing tuning (we could define it as more classic), and the shell, as you can see from the photos, is of the same material and shape. The driver, on the other hand, is half the thickness of the Hidizs MS1 Rainbow. Despite this, it gives me a better soundstage sensation but on the rest, it is obviously not able to compete.
vs EPZ Q5
The EPZ Q5 is the king of the 50 USD segment. Apart from that, MMCX has a beautiful package and is also quite rich in accessories. The driver is newer and probably of better quality, and perhaps that makes it better in resolution, image, and even soundstage. Regarding the tuning, that is also more pleasant for my taste. A very musical IEM.
vs Whizzer HE01
The Whizzer He01 is perhaps the only one in my possession that came out around the same time. It goes without saying that the packaging is super complete and the accessories are quality. Whizzers with this shell have excellent comfort and excellent quality construction. Much more musical as a driver, slightly brighter tuning with more air. They have a very high sensitivity to the impurities of the songs, so they sometimes bring out dirty details but it’s always the track.
Considering they are under 30 USD, these are still a good buy.
Conclusion:
There is now too much competition in this range and often their real value even makes them compete with sets worth 100 USD. The Hidizs MS1 Rainbow were very expensive at the time; they are very good, but compared to what we find on the market now, they are nothing exceptional. If you can find them at the discounted price, they are absolutely worth it, but the Whizzer HE01 is also worth looking at.
They are now out of production but they still deserve a review; they could easily be the PRO version of the Galaxy.
7.6/10
Pros:
- Same Shell as the MS1 Galaxy
- Good comfort and fit
- Well done packaging
- Removable cable
- Good tips included
- V-shaped tuning
- More treble and sparkle
- Impactful Bass and Sub-bass rumble (quite thick)
- Better DD
- New price at the moment from 27 USD to 36 USD
Cons:
- The soundstage is not really enveloped
- Resolution and details
- The full price was really high
- No hard case
- Old price was over 60 USD
Where to buy:
Hidizs MS1 Rainbow on Amazon.it
