Hidizs MS2 Pro Review 

Intro 

Hello everyone, this review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Hidizs Audio named the Hidizs MS2 Pro. A while back the good people over at Hidizs Audio asked if I could check out one of their latest under $100  iems for possible review. Naturally I was interested right away. However, when I found out that this new set will actually be the follow-up to the Hidizs MS2 Mermaid; I was even more pumped up to get my hands on it. The original MS2 was one of those sets which you either adored, or you didn’t. You either could handle it, or you couldn’t. I personally very much enjoyed the MS2 with its highly technical energetic sound. That said, I was very much intrigued at the concept of a “Part 2”. Nothing like a good sequel. The beautiful thing is that I feel Hidizs has really become one of the more respected brands and they’ve really dialed in their approach of late. I’m hoping that the MS2 Pro will be that budget centered under $100 gem that the hobby could use. We shall see… 

On a tear… 

However, I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention lately or not, but Hidizs has been on a tear folks. No doubt the main reason I couldn’t say no is because I know the quality that Hidizs has been working with over the last few years. One set after another Hidizs has been truly on fire. In fact, I just reviewed the Hidizs MK12 Turris Titanium Edition (MK12 Titanium Edition Review) recently and I can say with absolute assurance that the MK12 is definitely my favorite “under $200” single DD to come to market within the last few years. So yes, they’ve been very hot lately. Making solid decisions, every set is unique and different to the last, and Hidizs has smart timing too. They aren’t just releasing set after set just to hopefully land a payday. They take their time, they seem to assess the audio landscape, and Hidizs also seems to rely on running trends as well as customer feedback. Those are some critical components in this day and age within the hobby if you ask me. 

Magic

No doubt Hidizs is beginning to really build a legacy of solid products. I mean, look at some of their recent releases. There are some really big name sets that Hidizs has produced which took the audio world by storm at different times. Sets like the Hidizs MP145 which has most certainly reached legend status. That set quite literally was and still is one of the best planar sets you can buy at its price range. The Hidizs MS3 was another very well-tuned iem which was adored by many. The Hidizs S9 Pro Plus was also a very hot ticket item when it was released and still one of the better dongle dacs under $100. How about the Hidizs MP143 which was a follow-up from the MP145. That was another great option for anyone seeking a planar, yet it came at an easier price than the MP145. And finally, they released one of the best single DD earphones that many people have heard under $200 in the MK12 Turris. I’m telling you, the MK12 is a very special iem folks. So of course, I was way more than willing to see what magic Hidizs came up with for the MS2 Pro. 

Reviews 

By now mobileaudiophile.com has covered a multitude of Hidizs products. I actually have reviewed a number myself. Here are some of those reviews if you’d like to check them out at your leisure: Hidizs MM2, Hidizs MS5, Hidizs MS3, Hidizs MP145, Hidizs MS1 Galaxy, Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, Hidizs S8 Pro, Hidizs SD2, Hidizs MP143, Hidizs ST2 Nebula, Hidizs MK12 Turris, Hidizs MK12 Turris Titanium Edition, Hidizs MK10 ArcSonics, Hidizs MP145 Pro, Hidizs MK12 X DucBloke, Hidizs AP80 Pro Max.

Okay folks, well I just received the MS2 Pro. I posted a short 1st Impressions post to Facebook groups today and I basically said exactly how I feel. That is; the MS2 Pro should be a hit. Now I haven’t sent it through the paces, and I haven’t done any critical listening. I haven’t given the MS2 Pro any burn in yet. So, there’s a lot left to discover about the MS2 Pro. I can tell you for sure that I am going to try to explain this set to the best of my ability and I do hope it helps you. With that all said, I think I’m ready to get this one going and I’ll see you in about two and a half weeks. So, without further ado… the Hidizs MS2 Pro… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–Hidizs

–Amazon 

MS2 Pro Pros

-The zinc alloy shells are built like a tank

-The design is slick and totally uniquely crafted

-Tuning nozzles work nicely

-Great tonal balance, very fun signature that’s also very clean, across the board 

-Deep guttural bass, punchy, clean

-Rich and smooth midrange, solid energy & macro-dynamics

-Non-Offensive treble region with plenty of brilliance and nicely detailed 

-Detail retrieval is actually pretty nice for such a tuning

-Nice imaging 

-Soundstage has solid depth of field for the cost

MS2 Pro Cons

-No carrying case

-May become sharp nearing the upper mids for some

-Bass may be too emphasized

Gear used for testing 

–Shanling UP6

–Shanling UA6 

–Ifi Go Blu 

–Hidizs S9 Pro Plus  

–Shanling H0 

–Fiio JM21 

–Hiby R3 Pro II

–Shanling M1 Plus

–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra 

–Fiio Q15

-Many not listed

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing 

The Hidizs MS2 Pro arrived at my home in what I’d call a medium sized black box. On the cover you’ll see a photo of the MS2 Pro as well as some branding and on the back, you’ll find some specs as well. Open up the box and the first thing your eyes see is the MS2 Pro staring back at you in all their glory. I won’t go into every layer of this unboxing, but I will tell you that you’ll find the carrying bag, the eartips, the extra tuning nozzle, as well as the cable inside the box as well. All things considered, the unboxing isn’t bad at all. 

Eartips

Hidizs provided six pairs of eartips in total over two different styles of eartips. I happen to think they aren’t bad at all and do help to tune the MS2 Pro to your liking. I actually went with a 3rd party pair of eartips for my critical listening, but I used one of the pairs that Hidizs provided quite a lot. Anyways, the 1st set of three (S, M, L) are white silicone eartips which come with a wide-bore and have more of a shallow fit. I honestly didn’t like these as much as I do feel the MS2 Pro benefits from more of a semi-wide bore which is a hair longer than the shallow style tips. However, they aren’t bad at all and I’m sure I will use them in the future. Next, Hidizs added in three pairs (S, M, L) of gray silicone eartips which come with a semi-wide bore, firm flange, and a firm stem. Really these are solid tips, but I still couldn’t help myself and decided upon using the KBear 07 eartips as the fit is simply perfect for my ears. That said, Hidizs always adds in good accessories that are pertinent to the product. 

Storage Bag

This is one somewhat sore point to some people. That is, Hidizs does not supply a carrying “case” with the MS2 Pro. However, they do provide a very nice black leather bag for storage. Now, these are the same storage bags that Hidizs has handed out for years. I really like them and use them constantly. In fact, I like them much better than hard carrying cases. However, I am not you and I’m sure many of you will not be too pleased with that and so I did label the lack of a case a con. Still, I’m more than okay with it. The black bag is just large enough to fit your earphones, the cable, and I am able to squeeze in the EPZ TP35 Pro as well. I use this black bag often and I like it because I can put it in my front pocket, and it doesn’t look out of place or weird. Or I can just throw the storage bag I to my backpack and feel totally comfortable that all the contents will be fine. So, whether this is a “pro” or a “con” is up to you. Again, I’m good with it. 

Tuning Nozzles

One of the major upsides to the Hidizs MS2 Pro is the fact that Hidizs does provide slightly alternate ways to tune your pair of MS2 Pros. Hidizs provided that in the way of tuning nozzles. Three pairs to be exact. You’ll notice a small plastic “holder” which you can use to store your unused nozzle adapters. Anyways, there are three pairs of nozzles, and those nozzles offer slight variations of the MS2 Pro’s sound. Each tuning nozzle is basically labeled by the gasket color which is on each nozzle adapter. Those adapters are “Charm Red” (Red Gasket) which is supposed to provide a warm, emotional, and engaging sound. Next is the nozzle which best accentuates the highs, and its nozzle is referred to as “Crystal Clear” (White Gasket) which is said to add some more air and sparkle to your listen. The last nozzle is meant to add some bass weight to the lows, and it’s called “Midnight Black” (Black Gasket). All three do present a slightly different sound and each varies that sound accordingly with the name they were given. But don’t expect some night and day difference. Most certainly the tuning nozzles present enough of a change to warrant having tuning nozzles in the first place, but don’t expect three different earphones in one. 

What do they do? 

Charm Red

The balanced nozzle is exactly what it proclaims to be… balanced. So often these brands will get these nozzles entirely wrong, but Hidizs really did give the Charm Red a nicely balanced signature. Now, I did notice that the red nozzle does have a slightly warmer approach with a fairly weighted bass. However, the red nozzle also doesn’t knock down the highs and steel any of that clarity from up top. For the record, I used this nozzle for all critical listening. 

Crystal Clear 

The nozzle which comes with the white gasket is the “Crystal Clear” nozzle. Meant to uplift the highs and add some air and openness to the sound. What this nozzle does is add just a touch more of an analytical spin on the MS2’s tonal character. You’ll notice a hair more crispness, and the spectrum comes across a hair leaner, less warm, and a bit more sparkle up top. Again, these aren’t night and day differences. Just variations of the same tuning. As it should be. What this nozzle won’t do is all of a sudden add a ton of pierce and glare to your listening session. 

Midnight Black

Without a doubt this nozzle (Midnight Black) presents a warmer and less contoured sound. The black nozzle adds some smoothness and a warmer climate. Definitely bass will come through a hair more bodied, and the sound altogether won’t come across as clean, per say. Still, the black nozzle doesn’t completely kill all resolution and clarity. Still a very nice nozzle. 

Cable

The cable which Hidizs provides is a nice-looking thin wire for the MS2 Pro. It’s just a hair thinner than I’d typically go for, yet not bad at all. Now, I should note that I did use the provided cable for all critical listening and was more than happy with it. However, I do have a nice plump and fat blue 4.4 cable which has the MS2 Pro’s name on it when this review is done. Lol. Anyways, the provided cable is a very nice-looking wire, all white, 2-pin, flush mount, silver-plated OFC, and it’s thin, easy to handle. I think this cable was added mostly for its ease of use. It won’t pull down on your earphones and isn’t microphonic. The provided cable doesn’t have issues rolling up and storing either. Functionally it’s a nice cable. Now, you can get the MS2 Pro in either the 3.5 single ended or 4.4 balanced variations. Obviously, the set I received has the 4.4 balanced connector. The only issue that I have with this cable is the earhooks can get tangled from time to time. The cable is a hair too thin which does tend to get tied up and sometimes it’ll take me a minute to make right. That’s about it. Other than that, not bad at all for under $100. It’s what you should expect. 

Build / Design / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality / Design 

Okay, one area where Hidizs absolutely kills the market in is build quality. Find me a set over $50 from Hidizs that isn’t at least close to ‘tops in class’ in build quality. Go ahead, I’ll wait. The reason you cannot think of one is because Hidizs always crafts some of the better builds. The MS2 Pro is under $100 and is made entirely out of ZA12 Zinc-Aluminum Alloy. If you didn’t know, ZA-12 Zinc-Aluminum Alloy has awesome yield strength, very durable. It’s used all the time in many industries for tiny, miniscule electronics all the way up to industrial machinery. At any rate, we see this material often in the audio world and so it isn’t mind blowing. However, the design and cast of this shell is absolutely awesome. The cleanliness of the final product is fantastic. Hidizs really did come up with a very nice build. Of course, it isn’t the lightest set of earphones, so keep that in mind. Shaped like a rhino horn the shell body and faceplates are polished to a mirror finish and look absolutely gorgeous. You’ll notice Hidizs actually used rhino hide leather for the faceplates which has to be a first in audio. Also, they shaped the faceplates in a manner that appears to look like a rhino horn. Who thinks of that? Anyways, I just can’t say enough about the build and design. It’s creative, it’s unique, it’s durable, and structurally the MS2 Pro is very well made. 

Build Quality cont… 

Now, the MS2 Pro comes in three different color variations. Those being Royal Blue, Sunset Orange, and Midnight Black. Each color variation has the mirror polished zinc body and the only change is the color of the inlaid rhino leather faceplates. The MS2 Pro comes with medium length nozzles and are roughly about 6mm in width. So, fitment shouldn’t be a problem for anyone. It is a dual-cavity design as well and so you will notice two small vents for each. Truly a well-done design and build. Hidizs once again corners another price point with some of the best build quality in its class. 

Internals 

As I’ve said, and as you probably already know, the Hidizs MS2 Pro is a hybrid iem with a 1DD & 1BA configuration. Just like its predecessor, the Hidizs MS2 Mermaid. Having said that, friends, the MS2 Pro provides a huge upgrade in driver “quality”. It’s very easy to hear. So much so that I won’t even do a comparison with the OG MS2 because it doesn’t even qualify for it. So, to be exact, the MS2 Pro comes with one 10.2 mm dynamic driver with an aerospace grade PU+Peek polymer diaphragm that is nano coated in DLC material. Basically, it is a very light and very rigid material. The DD covers all of the lows and half of the midrange (if I’m reading this correctly). Hidizs also added in a dual-magnet setup (internal & external) using N52 magnets as well as a dual chamber design for the acoustic cavity. Now, another huge upgrade was with the balanced armature that Hidizs chose. This time Hidizs decided to use their very own Hidizs Silvercore balanced armature which will cover the upper-mids and highs. I can tell you right now that I don’t hear any distortions with usual portable sources and the drivers used never seem to sound grainy or odd in timbre. A true upgrade. 

Fit / Comfort 

I’ve partially covered the fitment, but I’ll reiterate what I said. So, I find the fit to be pretty nice. Like any set much of your success with fit also comes down to what eartips you choose. Again, I decided on using the KBear 07 tips in the large size which truly gives me an awesome seal. Also, the shell body hugs my ears very well. Though I should add that I do have to somewhat fidget around to get my perfect fit. The MS2 Pro is a slightly heavier set for its size but I never had any discomfort over long sessions. Now, I have no idea how the MS2 Pro is going to fit your ears. Obviously, you may have better or worse results. Still, for me, I like the fitment. 

Drivability / Pairings 

Output Power 

The Hidizs MS2 Pro is rated with an impedance of right around 17 ohms and a sensitivity of about 111 db’s. Of course, what these specifications mean is that the MS2 Pro is a very sensitive and easy to drive set of earphones. I can tell you right now that whatever source you have will be good (power-wise). I used so many sources over the course of my time with the MS2 Pro, and I make sure to always test any review iem with every weak source that I have and try to hear how well they scale. Without question the Hidizs MS2 Pro sounds dynamic and musical with just about any source device that I have. I used a couple old Android phones (with a 3.5 SE jack), my iPad, the KZ AZ20, AN01, as well as some weak no-name 3.5 SE dongle dacs and every one of those sources sounded both loud and dynamic. Plenty of headroom. So, if all you have is your phone or some less expensive 3.5 SE dongle dac then don’t worry, the MS2 Pro is sensitive enough to enjoy with just about any source. 

Add some juice! 

However, the MS2 Pro does scale a bit with some added amping power. It’s fairly easy to hear that there is an improvement in both transient tightness as well as macro-dynamics when I use a more powerful source, or a better source. Basically, any dongle dac above $50 is better than my Android phones, the AN01, or those weak Conexant dongle dacs. You don’t need a ton of power here so please don’t think I’m saying it needs some desktop unit to drive properly. No, no, no… just use a decently powerful dongle dac with some decent dac chips and you’ll hear a definite improvement. Obviously more powerful sources usually tend to be “better” sources. That means better circuitry, dac chips, amps used, etc. which most certainly helps in the overall sound fidelity of the MS2 Pro. Again, you don’t need a million watts, but some extra juice definitely helps. 

Source Pairing 

As far as what source is best to pair with the MS2 Pro; I’d say that for me I enjoy a more neutral to warm/neutral source with a good dynamic sound. I don’t need a source which bumps up the low-end because the MS2 Pro has plenty of that. I don’t want a source which will add even more warmth, because the MS2 Pro has plenty of warmth. However, on the flip side, I also don’t like bright sources. I mean, I don’t like bright sources in general, but they do tend to exaggerate the highs a bit with the MS2 Pro and can add some unwanted glare. I think most of my source devices worked just fine and some were obviously better than others. However, I don’t think the MS2 Pro is very picky, and I don’t think you need to worry too much about what your source tonality is. Perhaps stray from really warm sources (unless you love warmth) and maybe don’t go with brighter sources (unless you crave brightness). I actually really enjoyed the MS2 Pro from many different devices at many different price ranges. I do feel that the MS2 Pro will scale well to the quality of your source, so keep that in mind. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I proceed into the sound portion of this review I should make a couple quick notes. First off, I did perform burn-in on the MS2 Pro for roughly about three full days, which is typical for my reviews. I honestly didn’t hear much of a change, but of course I didn’t initially hear anything that I felt needed changed also. I listen mainly with flac or better files which are stored on my devices. The Android music players of my choice are UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro), Hiby Music Player, and at times Poweramp. Many of my daps are non-Android players as well. I chose to use the Charm Red nozzle filter for all critical listening. Lastly, I did tip-roll using KBear 07 eartips for all critical listening. 

What’s it sound like? 

To my ears the Hidizs MS2 Pro definitely has a slight warmth, more smooth than edgy, somewhat denser note body & cadence. The MS2 Pro is another emotionally charged, rhythmically inclined, lusher sounding set from Hidizs which simply oozes clean musicality and fun at an affordable price tag. The MS2 Pro is not some analytical lover’s dream, and you won’t catch treble heads scratching and clawing to get their hands on this set. However, for anyone who loves a set which comes across both rich and dynamic with plenty of bass presence, but also a good dynamic balance… the MS2 Pro may be perfect for you. One thing is clear, the Hidizs MS2 Pro is certainly a musicality-first iem with a penchant for drawing emotion from most any track with relative ease. It has that smooth & lush delivery, yet with fairly tight transients, good note density, and better detail retrieval than I would’ve initially thought. Truly a fun set which can portray multiple genres fairly well for a warmer, smoother tuning. I’d definitely say the MS2 Pro is a very versatile iem. The best part about this set is its clean dynamic playback. Nothing sounds sloppy on this set. Even with its smoother delivery you’ll hear solid & well-defined note contours. Something you don’t always hear in a smoother style iem. No doubt the MS2 Pro picks up energy as you climb the frequency, but altogether the timbre is very much organic and earthy to my ears. Nothing comes across as inauthentic or artificial either. From the sub-bass to the upper treble the MS2 Pro leaves no area of the spectrum out and each (bass, mids, treble) is represented well. 

Smooth operator 

If I were to describe the MS2 Pro as anything I’d say it has a warm/neutral U-shaped signature. Maybe. I don’t go crazy trying to label things as I really don’t think U, V, W, or any other moniker really helps explain anything. But one thing “U-shaped” can inform you on is that the midrange isn’t as overtly recessed as something which would be considered V-shaped. Which is great. Coincidentally, the midrange area is one which Hidizs has been concentrating on of late and it shows in their recent iems. Another aspect that Hidizs seems to be zeroing in on is that warm and smooth delivery. Now, I gotta tell you all, I do enjoy a “smooth operator” style tuning. I often enjoy that creamy style musicality (pssst, I enjoy most any signature). However, there’s a few huge caveats for me. That is; that warmth & smoothness cannot come across veiled, congested, too bass focused, or murky. I suppose I still need some sense of ‘maturity’ with my musicality. I need some note contour, some crisp edges, I need some sparkle, some clean transients, some note definition. Too much smooth warmth can flatten & widen notes, scrunch them together, it can blur some of the fine lines, and it can congest the stereoscopic mental picture of my music if it isn’t done in a smart way. I can say with perfect confidence that Hidizs certainly tuned the MS2 Pro in a way that does provide that density, the solid note weight, fluid smoothness, as well as some clean macro-dynamic energy along with very nice resolution within its slightly warmed atmosphere. For the cost, the MS2 Pro is a definite no-brainer. 

Bass Region 

Before I go any further, please remember I’m talking about a budget iem. All of my colorful language is in regard to this fact. No, the MS2 Pro isn’t going to dethrone sets three times the price and when I say, “It’s great!” (for instance), I’m talking about how great it is in relation to other under $100 iems. That said, Hidizs did a fantastic job overall. Let’s check out the low’s folks. 

Solid to my ears…

Remember, I performed all critical listening using the ‘Charm Red’ nozzle filter which provides a solid low-end foundation without adding so much prominence in this region that the bass becomes the focus. Yet the bass region offers a very engaging style listen with its fast punch impact & recovery, along with its just-above-moderate sublevel weight. Looking at the graph with the red filter I see right around 9-11 db’s of bass shelf (depending on who’s graph you are looking at). Right around that sweet spot where the rumble is heavy and forceful, but the emphasis isn’t oversaturated. Hidizs did a nice job crafting a fun bass region that isn’t without some dexterity, some finesse, and good note definition. No doubt about it, the bass region on the Hidizs MS2 Pro definitely carries a very healthy dose of robust and physical bass. Yet it’s a bass region with some agility folks. This isn’t a low-end which gets easily congested and I don’t hear overly long-drawn-out harmonic lag. It’s fairly obvious that this dynamic driver can speed along with tighter transients (for its size) as well as the rigid slam needed for many different situations and tracks. I should quickly add that this meaty bass isn’t quite at basshead levels. It’s simply a very satisfying low-end, a fun low-end, and a low-end which adds just enough warm influence across the mix to provide some bolstered note weight and smoothness. I’ve very much enjoyed the MS2 Pro’s clean density and full-bodied approach. Timbre is nice, it’s organic, and the bass definitely has that dark-vibrant dynamism to really come across solid to my ears. 

Not to a detriment

Of course, you aren’t going to have the same quick snap punch that you’d have on a few other notable iems within its price point. No doubt there are iems which come with slightly better note definition, detail resolution, and even more of a fast-twitch recovery ability. Those sets are obviously tuned differently with less of a bass focus too. However, there aren’t many ‘under $100’ iems which combine the clean timbre of the MS2 Pro as well as the same bullish vivacity. Not quite anyways. Again, Hidizs did a very nice job. Perhaps not for everyone as you have to enjoy a fairly prominent bass. There are certainly sets which have similar low-end tunings as well as sets which can navigate a complicated bass sequence a little better (again they are tuned differently). As one would expect with such a vast sea of under $100 iems. Though I’ve been nothing but impressed with the MS2 Pro’s ability to carry a rigid note density, a generally clean note outline, an authoritative punch, as well as a very nice agility and transient swiftness for the price. Now, the MS2 Pro’s lows will mask some frequencies in bass heavy tracks, but it also never really seems to overwhelm the rest of the mix. Not to a detriment anyways. 

Sub-Bass 

The sublevels of the MS2 Pro’s low-end are lifted enough to provide that physical and palpable feel to my music. Again, not to the levels of what bass-bois would consider “good”. Yet fans of a sub-bass which is both haptic in its rumbly feels as well as reasonably sonorous should at least appreciate what the MS2 can do. That said, I like the balance on display here. The sub-bass definitely carries that fullness and deep pitched extension into the sublevel abyss. However, Hidizs tuned this region to have a certain precision and cleanliness too. Definitely not sloppy. Just listen to “Big Hammer” by James Blake as the MS2 Pro’s sublevel bass sounds very nimble, but also very guttural. It shows off its dark vibrant and juddering weight very well on this track. Most bass guitars will certainly have that fullness of body, they’ll sound low droning, with a clean edge to notes while also coming across mostly unsullied. Really nice resolution for a bigger bass. I hear nice surface textures with just enough edge for most notes to sound distinct and plenty of palpable feel to bolster those clean notes. Very nice for $99 folks. 

Mid-Bass 

Now, the mid-bass is just as robust with an authoritative slam and more than enough heavy booming amplitude for any hip-hop bass drop or heavy kick drum. However, the emphasis here is just enough to balance dynamically with the treble region. Really, it’s tuned in a tasteful way. Any set can be emphasized and booming folks. You can find sets as low as $5 which can pound and dig deep. However, not every set can do so with the agility and the quick recovery speed of the MS2 Pro in respect to that emphasis. I think that’s what separates this set from some of the others under $100. You generally won’t hear anything one-noted, nothing murky, muddy, or smeared, and you won’t hear anything too blended in this region. There is a very clean transition from sublevel bass to mid-bass, and both work together pretty well too. I should also add that the MS2 Pro’s mid-bass does encroach into the midrange and definitely adds plenty of color, warmth, and weight to that region. Not everyone enjoys that type of spillover, though I think it’s part of the chemistry which makes the midrange sound as organic as it does. So, these are certainly points to consider. All things considered, the MS2 Pro carries a substantial bass presence yet without the usual hangups which accompany a substantial bass presence. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

The biggest gripe that some people will have is definitely the overall emphasis that Hidizs tuned the MS2 Pro’s bass region with. I know plenty of people who’d much rather have a faster, tighter, and less robust bass which keeps to itself and doesn’t color the spectrum too much. Honestly, for $99 I can’t find many real issues here other than that. I think when you weigh the MS2 Pro against the competition you’ll notice that this set is set apart in many ways. Hidizs did a nice job. 

Midrange

The midrange of the MS2 Pro transitions very well from the low-end with that creamy, smooth, and rhythmic cadence. Like I mentioned earlier, the bass region carries over quite a way into the midrange providing that colored take on my music. I’d say it’s just a titch warmer than perfectly natural. Certainly, closer to organic than it isn’t. Again, this set is all about fluid and frictionless musicality coupled with refined detail. However, the MS2 Pro’s mids aren’t just lush leaning, warmth infused notes with only smooth inflections. Hidizs really did a nice job of tuning this set to also focus on fairly precise details too, nice note separation, and better layering of sounds then a $99 bass heavy set usually provides. While I definitely hear a more velvet portrayal of my music, I also hear plenty of crispness and upper-mid luster as well. The balance provided to the midrange helps tremendously to bring upon some precision to that warmth, some clinical fine lines as micro-dynamics are much easier to discern than your typical warm, smooth, and richer sounding set. Basically, the MS2 Pro has some nice detail retrieval too. Now, I would not call the MS2 Pro “best in class” or a “detail monster”. Yet I would say that anyone who enjoys focusing on the finer minutiae within their music will be able to do just that fairly well with this set. In my opinion the MS2 Pro is 60% musicality to 40% analytical. 

Midrange cont…

Now, as far as emphasis is concerned, there is thee slightest recession within the lower midrange as some males and some instruments are ever-so-slightly pushed back, but not so much that I would call them “recessed”. Instead, I’d say the MS2 Pro’s midrange comes with a natural presence and auditory stature against the rest of the mix. In the same breath I also wouldn’t say the midrange has a forward or mid-centric tuning either. I know I keep repeating myself, but this is the way I see this set. It’s all about a balance folks. Add to that, Hidizs tuned this budget hybrid iem with extremely good cohesiveness. Nothing is disjointed, nothing sounds anywhere near artificial, and the midrange flows from one area to another with a seamless fluidity. Actually, the word “fluidity” is one you’ll probably read a lot in this review because the MS2 Pro is all about it. While the midrange won’t be a mid-lover’s dream, it is a very nice midrange with nice vocals, good presence, and nice details for the person who wants that balance but can’t spend an arm and a leg to get it. I should also add that I do hear some nice airiness at times too. Some nice note separating openness along with that note defining clean edge. Depending on the track of course. Certainly, one of the better midrange performances under $100.

Lower-Midrange 

The low-mids are very nice on the MS2 Pro. This is usually the worst area on most sets. While the low-mids aren’t as forward leaning or shimmery, this region also has that good cornerstone style note weight to them. Instruments sound well-articulated, clean, and they don’t come across distant or weak in presence. Also, males have that nice warmth cast upon them from the bass, which carries over quite a way into this region. Usually that carry-over would almost blunt note edges and overly smoothen the finer details or even cast a veil over this region. Yet that isn’t the case here. No, the low-mids aren’t as razor sharp and vibrant as the upper mids, but they have very nice presence. Males like David Draimen of Disturbed in the track “The Sound of Silence” is absolutely awesome on this set folks. His voice covers such a huge range in this track and the emotion brought on through the MS2 Pro is flat-out great. Every inflection, every intonation, every deeply weight accentuation from David sounds authoritative and full bodied. Especially when he reaches deep in that lower register. You’ll notice when that midrange and bass begin to sing together because his voice is utterly bold and forceful, as well as luminous and ethereal on this set. I simply like the MS2 because it covers every range very well. The bonus is that the lower mids really are clean and clear and they don’t sound murky or veiled like so many sets can sound. 

Upper-Midrange 

Now, the upper-mids come through very well with plenty of shimmer and uplifted energy borrowed from the treble as well as that moist body to most notes borrowed from the low-end. I hear some nice crispness and bite cresting the note surface when a track calls for it. I’d say there’s a very nice mix of vivaciousness & richness which helps most females to not come across thin. There’s still nice note weight and density in this region. I don’t hear a huge thinning of the upper-mids, which really gives females a canvas to come across both bodied and full as well as light and airy. Females tracks like “Vanish into You” from Lady Gaga do a nice job of showing off some of the MS2 Pro’s upper mid skill. Her voice has that nice edginess and crispness without sounding abrasive or grainy. The MS2 Pro takes my ears right to the brink of glare yet never steps over that line. “The Architect” by Kacey Musgraves is another example of cleanly articulated female vocals along with a more moistened delivery. Her voice comes across effortlessly flowery, feathery, and airy, as well as rich in body. I love that even in the more vibrant areas the MS2 Pro still manages to draw on the emotion of a song. I’m not saying the MS2 Pro is the best midrange set under $100, but it does a fantastic job. Nice work Hidizs. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

If I were to call out some issues in this region, I’d say that there is a bit more vibrancy and upper-mid shimmer than some may enjoy. For those of us who are extremely sensitive to any glare whatsoever. Or even those folks who much more desire that rolled-off and darkly weighted sound. Those people may want to keep looking. As I said earlier, the MS2 Pro took my ears right to the cusp of glare…yet stops just short of that. I’d also say that analytical heads would not be impressed completely. This is not a thin, dry, and ultra-airy sounding midrange and you won’t always hear every last detail as though they are being put on a pedestal. At times a bass heavy track will mask certain sounds and frequencies too. So those who are seeking out that clean-lined and ultra-detailed sound aren’t going to find that here. The MS2 Pro is far too musically gifted with so much more of a rhythmical quality to its midrange to appease those folks. Still, it has that nice 60/40 split of musicality and analytical ability. 

Treble Region 

This brings us to the treble region, the highs. I actually really enjoy the treble folks. This region is brought to us entirely by Hidizs very own Silvercore balanced armature which are obviously very talented drivers when tuned well. They help the MS2 Pro to have some very nice timbre with a natural leaning sound. I’m telling you, I don’t hear anything harsh, discordant, or artificial friends. Hidizs tuned the treble with some very nice emphasis and appropriately measured brilliance. Enough of an emphasis to uplift the midrange, add snap and crispness to instruments and provide vibrancy to the upper ends of the midrange, all the while not coming across too sharp up top. The treble has a definite smoothness to it. It isn’t some jagged and edgy mess. It’s smooth, somewhat layered, it reveals the subtleties and details rather nicely too and does so without coming across like smeared treble to my ears. Beyond that, the treble region of the MS2 Pro adds a sense of spaciousness and openness to the overall sound. It provides some air, and some crisp accentuations to the crest of notes when a track calls for it. The best part is that the talented tuners at Hidizs did so without anything sounding forced. No forced resolution, no artificial details, nothing forced. It all sounds relatively organic. Sure, there are pricier sets which handle the treble with better bite and haptic treble punch. Your EST’s, multiple micro-planars, multiple BA’s etc. Still, for one Silvercore BA Hidizs did a very solid job. 

Technically Speaking 

Extension into the highest of highs is also pretty nice without coming across like a mishmash of treble tizz, never sounds sibilant either. Secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike never sound too splashy (in a bad way) or smeared. The treble is extended enough to add that psycho-acoustic stage stretching airiness up top without going overboard. As I’ve said many times in this review the upper treble also carries that fluidity and balance. Beyond extension, the treble region is actually nicely detailed for sounding as smooth as it does. Certainly not a thin, clinical, or dry sound either. I hear solid note separation and even some layering of sounds up top. Also, like I said, there is some definite note contouring bite, edginess, and crispness that you’ll hear. Although, keep in mind we are talking about a $99 iem here and so you aren’t going to have top shelf clean-lined, fine-lined, and perfectly articulated nuances of every track. There are some nuances which get smoothed-over to a degree. Still, Hidizs really did a nice job with the treble region when it comes to only one DD and one BA. Much more intricate, much more engaging, and much more energetic than I would’ve thought without anything sounding piercing or harsh. Another aspect of this treble and this Silvercore BA is that it can handle more complex treble passages without too much blending of sounds. Like I said, notes have nice structure and contour as well as a fairly transparent sound up top. Note separation is pretty nice, and transient attack through decay is rather taut and tight too, and so some of the more complicated tracks really don’t pose much of a problem for the MS2 Pro. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

Once again, there isn’t anything that is outright bad about this treble region. Really, the only issues will come for those who have subjective tonal preferences which don’t align with the MS2 Pro’s tuning. I mean, “technically” the MS2 Pro’s treble is very nice. Also, “tonally” the treble is very nice too. You don’t have any of that artificial timbre and I don’t hear anything that comes across rolled-off up top either. Extension is good as well. There really aren’t any glaring weaknesses. I’d say that “perhaps” treble heads won’t drop the $99 for this set. I’d also say that those folks who enjoy a darker and more rolled-off treble region will probably think the MS2 Pro’s highs are too bright and brilliant. For the record, I do not feel that way at all. I think Hidizs did a bang-up job on this set and the treble is a total testament to that. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage

Using the red filter, I hear a more holographic stage experience than I would’ve guessed going into this review. You have that deeply pitched low end extension as well as that airy and open upper end extension along with solid macro-dynamics which do tend to psycho-acoustically stretch the stage, to a degree anyways. Without question the stage is above average. I don’t hear a super intimate stage, and nothing ever sounds congested to my ears either. Definitely it comes with an above average width, nice height, and most surprisingly the MS2 Pro’s stage has solid depth of field. I don’t know if I’d call the MS2 Pro class leading in stage size, but it’s very good. 

Separation / Imaging 

When it comes to sound separation and the MS2 Pro’s ability to coherently and distinctly separate elements of a stage, I feel that Hidizs really did a solid job of bringing some of that finely layered transparency to an otherwise very musical presentation. Sure, there are some tracks which will come across a bit too congested, but overall, the MS2 Pro handles sound separation pretty well. Certainly, the MS2 Pro isn’t some technical beast, and you will have some masking of sounds coming from the bass emphasis. However, by-and-large the MS2 Pro surprised me with its ability to distinctly render each note. Obviously, some tracks will come across better than others but for the most part the MS2 Pro does a fine job. Imaging is absolutely spot-on. In truth, Imaging is usually either good or not good. A set can only place instruments on a stage as good as a track is recorded. I can tell you for sure that this set does an awesome job of distinctly placing instruments and voices from left to right as well as having a nicely layered front to back sound. Not bad at all. 

Detail Retrieval 

Detail retrieval is one area which will come down to the track you are listening to. The MS2 Pro is not going to resolve subtle details as well as sets which are solely tuned analytically. That’s just the truth. The MS2 Pro has such a fluid and rhythmic sound and so it really cannot compete with a set which was literally tuned to draw out the intricacies and subtle details. The MS2 Pro has that beefed-up and meaty bass, and it definitely is a smoother and richer sounding iem. So, I wouldn’t expect to hear top level detail retrieval. However, now that I’ve said all of that… the MS2 Pro will resolve way more details than I’m used to hearing from a musicality-first iem. This comes down to quality of drivers and quality of tuning. When I say that I don’t miss much with this set… I mean exactly that. Detail retrieval is most certainly above average. In my opinion that is. 

Is it worth the asking price? 

I am not going to spend too much time on this because you already know my answer. You already know that I feel the MS2 Pro is a solid buy at $99. The crazy thing is that Hidizs has a sale right now for $69, which is one of the better and more rewarding deals you’ll find under $70. Yes, there are many quality iems at these prices to choose from, but I don’t know if another set puts it all together quite like the MS2 Pro for my taste. The point is that “yes” the Hidizs MS2 Pro is worth every penny of the $99 that Hidizs is asking for. 

The Why… 

Because the zinc-alloy build is so well put together, so clean, and simply durable feeling. This set is built like a tank folks. Also, I’ve never seen a design quite like this. Hidizs chose to put actual rhino leather on the faceplates and designed the body of this iem to resemble a rhino horn. It is so cool! Such a dope design that will never look silly in the ear whether you are chilling at home or out in the marketplace. Hidizs also adds in three tuning filters which do change up the sound to varying degrees. You definitely do get three variations of the same tuning and it’s nice to see. No doubt the unboxing isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination (for the cost) as well. 

That sound… 

However, every solid buy in the audio world will come down to the audio itself. It has to actually sound good. Thankfully, the MS2 Pro sounds like one of the best sets under $100. Certainly, an easy recommendation from me. Absolutely. At any rate, the bass digs deep, it’s dense, nothing soft, it penetrates, it’s physical, yet it never oversaturates. The lows have tight transients, they’re clean, but they also slam with some satisfying weight. Next, the midrange is tuned with such a nice musical/analytical balance as it doesn’t lean too far either way. I hear such a nice and smooth organic timbre as well as high resolution. You have solid note weight along with nice crispness, good note contours, and nothing which sounds artificial, sharp, or harsh. Really a nice and rhythmically gifted midrange, wonderful for getting lost in your music. Also, the treble has that nice brilliance without causing fatigue, and it has a very airy and open sound whilst coming across with a smooth cadence. Again, it’s all about that nice balance. Furthermore, the MS2 Pro is a much better detailed iem than I would’ve guessed with solid note separation, great imaging capabilities and a great stage size. I hear nice dimensionality of the sound field as well. Really, this set is an absolute no-brainer. Of course it’s worth the $99 it takes to own it! If you can get it for the sale price of $69…it’s a steal. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review of the Hidizs MS2 Pro, I first have to thank the awesome folks over at Hidizs. Friends, this brand is so refreshing. The people are awesome, they care about their product, and they are always helpful and easy to reach. Hidizs has never even hinted to me about sounding a certain way, speaking a certain way about their products, and they’ve never asked to preread anything. Nothing underhanded. Just a stand-up company from my perspective. So, thank you Hidizs. I also need to thank you, the reader, for actually taking the time out of your busy lives to click the link and check out this review. It means a lot to my partners at Mobileaudiophile.com as each click is of huge importance. We are committed to providing the best content that we can and we certainly hope it is helpful to you. So, thank you. 

Other perspectives 

Now that I’ve thanked you for checking out my review of the Hidizs MS2 Pro, I also hope that you’d check out some others. There are so many good reviewers out there who care about giving you their authentic take on this set. Just solid people who really do a good job breaking down these products. I hope you’ll listen to, watch, or read other reviews and perspectives so that you can gain an even better understanding of what you are getting with the Hidizs MS2 Pro. Folks, we are all very much different. The guy sitting right next to me may have a completely different opinion than I do. Yes I really enjoy the MS2 Pro, but the next guy may not. Hence why I feel it’s important to get as many angles as possible. It’s just more info to help you make an informed purchasing decision. I am not the last word on audio and I do have my own subjective likes and dislikes, so does the next guy. So please click on some more links. Okay, with that all said I think I’ve covered it all. Please take good care, each and every one of you. Stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless! 

Purchase Here:

–Hidizs

–Amazon