ISN NEO 5 Review
Intro
Well, hello, today I am reviewing one of ISN Audio‘s latest hybrid iems which goes by the name “ISN NEO 5”. The NEO 5 comes in with an MSRP of $289. I said “one of the latest” but in reality, the NEO 5 has been out for over a year now and by all accounts is still regarded very highly within the audio community. I actually received the NEO 5 as I am part of Audio Geeks United States Tour provided to the tour by Penon Audio. So, I want to first thank both parties for the NEO 5 finding my mailbox and providing me the opportunity I likely wouldn’t have been able to have.
A certain DNA
Of course, ISN is a sister brand to Penon Audio and so it is very evident of the DNA when listening. That said, I’ve heard only a few actual Penon sets, and this is the 1st time I’ve ever heard an ISN set. So, you can imagine how well I feel about this brand thus far. Now, I do own the Penon Vortex which I feel is one of the best single DD iems that money can buy under $300. Right there with the Simgot EA1000 (EA1000 Review) and the Tanchjim Origin (Origin Review). Also, I own the Penon Fan 2 which is one of the best bassy and rich hybrid sets you’ll find under $300. Unfortunately, I was never able to review them due to a huge backlog, but I really did want to as I enjoy them both immensely. So anyways, I have yet to hear a bad sounding set from these two sister brands and after spending time with the NEO 5 it makes me all the more curious about the other sets within their lineup.
Penon/ISN
For those that don’t know, Penon was established back in 2013 as an actual online retailer rather than an iem and audio device brand. The success of Penon was evident very quickly making a name for themselves. Eventually along the way Penon began to craft their own iems which soon took the audio world by storm as the sets they were producing had a very high price to performance. Now, ISN began as a cable making brand and eventually an earphone brand making some huge successes along the way that run right alongside most of Penon’s offerings. I won’t go through every successful Penon & ISN set because it just takes too long and anyone reading probably already knows anyways. The point is that both brands have made hit after hit, quality product after quality product, where price to performance is paramount and value is king. Again, I haven’t heard all of them, but from people that I completely and wholly trust… Penon/ISN makes almost no mistakes.
Okay friends, I don’t want to drag this out any longer than I have to because I am truly excited to be able to write my thoughts about this set. At this point t I’ve only listened for a short period and I’m looking forward to doing a deep dive. I have one measly week with this set and for any other review I’d say this is not enough time to dissect anything. However, I’m listening day and night, both at work and out of work so I think I’ll be able to get my feelings across from an experiential perspective. So, without further ado, the ISN NEO 5 everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:
Disclaimer:
I received the ISN NEO 5 from Audio Geeks United States Tour and from Penon Audio as a loaned tour sample. In exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com as well as Audio Geek. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. Again, this set is a tour unit. Penon/ISN has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Audio Geek/Penon and thanks for reading.
NEO 5 Pros
-Design is nice, deep maroon color
-High quality cable (may also be a con for some)
-Smooth and very engaging sound at this price
-Great cohesion across drivers, very well done
-Timbre is closer to organic, natural, very pleasing for a hybrid
-The bass is absolutely fantastic for bulbous bass lovers
-Midrange is creamy yet still resolves very well, great for vocals
-Non-fatiguing treble that’s also resolving, clean, extended for the tuning
-Stage has a certain intimate, yet 3D element to it that is wonderful, very full stage
-Wonderfully tuned, the smoothness is seductive, enchanting and timbre is great
NEO 5 Cons
-Build Quality is average for the price. Not bad, not amazing.
-Cable is springy, kind of all over the place (nitpick)
-Analytical lovers will want to steer clear of this set
-Bass is big, robust, not the speediest, and may not suit everyone’s taste
-Details aren’t the best (as expected)
-Separation won’t win any awards
-Stage isn’t the most grand in sheer size (still a great stage)
-Treble could use some brilliance & air
Gear used for testing
–Ifi Go Blu
–EPZ TP50
–Simgot Dew4x
–Aful SnowyNight
–Fiio Q15
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
–Shanling M6 Ultra
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
Not all unboxing experiences are created equal. Some are “meh” while others are a quick hit of dopamine to the system. I could see how this unboxing could be the latter. It’s a nice one for the price. First off, the box that the NEO 5 comes in is a fairly large rectangle with a gorgeous blue metallic colorway. You’ll notice the ISN logo adorned on the front cover while the back has some useful specs. Nothing very different from anything else within the market at this price, but nice looking, nonetheless. Anyways, as you open the box, you’ll see the NEO 5 sitting within some foam cut-outs. Right next to the NEO 5 is the carrying case. Inside the case are the eartips as well as the cable, cable clip, and iem cleaning tool. I know I don’t make it sound very titillating, but I can assure you that it’s a nice unboxing and one that is good for the price.
Eartips
ISN provides a total of nine pairs of eartips and they are all of fantastic quality. However, they are all basically the same exact tips with only slight variations in rigidity of the flanges. That’s it. So, you get one set of three pairs (S, M, L) of some white flanged and green stem silicone tips which are almost identical to KBear 07 tips. Which, if you’ve paid attention to my reviews even slightly, you’d know I adore the 07’s. These tips have a semi-wide bore meaning, not narrow and not wide bore so… Semi-wide. The next set also has three pairs (S, M L) and it is a white flange with red stem (some folks got white/white) silicone eartips which are a hair flimsier at the flanges. Same semi-wide bore, same size and shape too. The last set of three pairs (S, M, L) is a dark gray flanged and green stem set of silicone tips and you guessed it, same size, shape, style of the other two sets and right in line with KBear 07 tips. Again, semi-wide bore as well but these tips are slightly more rigid at the flange. So, I like what ISN did here. They provided the tips they felt gave the NEO 5 its best sonic capabilities but simply changed the firmness of the flange. All very solid tips.
Carrying case
ISN also added in a nice carrying case into the packaging. It is a blue colored leather case with a flip open top and a nice magnetic clasp to hold closed. We’ve seen these cases before but that doesn’t make them any less nice to have. It really is gorgeous case folks. I love the nice-looking stitching along the edges and the ISN logo looks sweet in the middle of the flap. Just a nice-looking case. It’s big enough to store your earphones and their cable and possibly some extra tips and if you are really good you could possibly carry a very small dongle dac without the cable attached. Basically, this case will do a great job of protecting your precious NEO 5 earphones wherever you go. I kinda like the case because it fits in my front pocket and doesn’t look like I’m happy to see anyone… If you know what I mean. Anyways, it’s nice addition folks.
Cable
Now we get to the cable which has been somewhat of a point of contention for me. First off, it’s a very nice cable. Let’s just get that out of the way. Nice cable that sounds great too. To be exact it’s the ISN S4, which is a 2-pin SPC (silver-plated-copper) cable using single crystal copper made of four strands and each strand contains 63 cores making a total of 252 cores. At Purchasing you can get either a 3.5 single ended jack, a 2.5 balanced jack, or a 4.4 balanced jack. The one I am using is the 4.4 balanced thankfully. This cable is light on the ear which is good because the NEO 5 is not heavy at all. It’s not too fat and not too thin, somewhere in the middle. The cable is beautiful to look at attached to the NEO 5 too as it’s a beautiful stark white colorway with very classy looking black/gold fittings (y-split, jack, two pin). It’s a nice ISN cable, no doubt about it. However, my point of contention comes with this cable’s inability to wrap up and hold its wrap. It’s one of those which I wind up and the second I put it down for storage it springs to life. Lol. Not a big deal but it’s a pet peeve of mine. All things considered the ISN S4 is a fantastic cable and pairs very nicely with the NEO 5.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
The actual build and construction of the ISN NEO 5 is not something which is going to blow anyone’s mind. It’s a sturdy and well-crafted transparent medical grade resin which appears to have been 3D printed. Having said that, ISN’s promotional material states that the NEO 5 is handmade. So, I don’t know what that means exactly. Maybe the build was done by hand I suppose. Who knows. The good thing is that the NEO 5 is obviously built well. Of course, these types of resin builds can be found on much less expensive sets. I’d say the important thing is the ergonomic shape, the clean corners, smoothness, weight and overall size matters the most. It’s obviously very durable material and feels sturdy enough. The shape is very ergonomic with a medium length nozzle. The nozzle itself measures right around 6 mm in diameter. Normal size, most any eartips can be squeezed in them and should fit comfortably in most ears. The NEO 5 has one larger back vent with filter mesh as well. It’s a nice build and good for the price.
Design
I love a simple design. Always have. I don’t like a lot of crazy business happening with the aesthetic unless it’s done in a classy or cool way. However, more than not I like something handsome and minimalist. As you can see from the pictures the NEO 5 is just that. It’s a cool colorway too. I think the maroonish color, or “Royal Maroon” (best guess) is different enough to feel fresh. The logo centered on the faceplate in gold is also a good contrast for the maroon. Have I seen better? Of course I have, but that doesn’t take away from the simplicity and class that ISN designed this set with. There’s something to be said of a brand that doesn’t try to only wow a person from the outside-in. But instead ISN puts the true value of this set internally and the proof of that shines forth when I listen. Another cool aspect of the design is the transparency of the resin. I will always love a design that offers me a shot to see the inner workings of a set. You have to be good at it though. It doesn’t help to have a transparent housing if all the guys if a set look sloppy and disheveled. Thankfully, ISN did a bang-up job keeping everything nice and neat looking. It’s just a nice design, friends. I suppose I could’ve just stopped at that.
Internals
So there really isn’t much to glean from the Penon website or from ISN’s for that matter about exactly what drivers are used. I can see that they used a 10 mm dynamic driver as well as four Knowles balanced armature drivers. That’s about it. I can tell you that the 10mm DD covers only the bass region. Also, I can tell you that two of the Knowles BA’s handle the mids and two BA’s handles the highs. So, each part of the spectrum is partitioned off to different drivers. That’s all I know as of right now. Obviously, the drivers are very capable and quality drivers, so I suppose that’s all that matters.
Fit / Isolation
This set is very comfortable for me. Part of that is due to the extremely ergonomic shape of the NEO 5. It simply fits perfect for me as it just sits right inside my ears. Like they grew there! Another reason is because the NEO 5 is very light. Very comfortable for long listening sessions. Add into that the lighter cable and you have a set which doesn’t pull at my ears and doesn’t feel heavy in my ears. It’s just nice. How they will fit you is another question that I cannot answer. Isolation is about average for me. I don’t feel that sound is attenuated to some great degree but that is a non-issue when the second music starts playing.
Drivability / Pairings
The NEO 5 is rated with an impedance of 26 ohms and a sensitivity of 111 db’s which renders the NEO 5 to be fairly easy to drive, I guess. It’s actually not that the NEO 5 is difficult to drive or not, it really comes down to how good the NEO 5 can scale with more output. You also have to consider the source tonality you are using if you want to get the best balance out of this set. The NEO 5 is a warmer set, it’s bassy and so naturally if you don’t want a super warm sound then it’s best to pair with a brighter or cooler source. I even enjoyed warm/neutral or neutral with a splash of warmth. I simply didn’t enjoy anything really warm paired with this set. Remember, that is just how I enjoyed them. However, you may love the warmth of this set paired with the warmth of a warmer source. That’s up to you. I know plenty of warm/dark lovers. For me I really enjoy the contrast a cooler or warm/neutral source provides. Also, it does like more power, but that power doesn’t need to be some desktop setup with a thousand watts. Give the NEO 5 150 mw on medium/high gain and it’ll show you what it can do. Most dongle dacs are at the very least 150 mw on balanced. Even very cheap dongle dacs. Having said that, I also don’t feel that more power is required. It just helps to tighten that bass up and a cooler source will help add just that last little bit of sheen to the spectrum.
Mobile Listening
I listen a lot out and about wherever I go I usually have a big case in my truck with about six or seven dongle dacs, usually a dap too. Cutting grass, cleaning the house, and all day at work I can listen till my heart’s content. I go nowhere without my Ifi Go Blu, and I really enjoyed how the CS43131 dac chips and warm/neutral tonal color of the Go Blu reacted to the warm sound of the NEO 5. Very dynamic for a mobile Bluetooth setup. However, for dongle dacs I mainly enjoyed the NEO 5 with the EPZ TP50, Aful SnowyNight, or the Simgot Dew4x. Each has the CS43198 dac chip installed and each run neutral. Out of those the TP50 was to me the perfect source for this purpose. It’s dynamic, upper mid and treble adds some lift and sparkle to the NEO 5, and it just generally gave this set that last little titch of levity. Not required though.
Daps
Now this is where I begin to contradict everything I’ve said, on the surface that is. So, one of my most favorite daps to use is the warmish and also completely resolving sound of the Shanling M6 Ultra. Yes, it’s a hair warmer but it also is very energetic in dynamism. The M6 Ultra will tighten some transients and create fine lines on a smooth set. It’s a special dap. My iBasso DX240 and Fiio Q15 both absolutely nailed the synergy required for an amazing listening session. Both are tonally a bit cooler, and both are ridiculously talented in their sonic ability. I think out of everything the Q15 created the best “synergy” for me, but the NEO 5 is a solid iem folks and so long as your source is capable, it’ll shine.
What do you need?
I’d say that you really just need a good dongle dac. Something that will demand the best out of the NEO 5. I personally recommend a cooler source as it will help the NEO 5 where it isn’t as strong and turn that L-shaped sound a bit less warm and one sided. Obviously, a lot will be determined by your own preferences, and I don’t want to lose sight of that. More power helps too, so if you have a good dap at your disposal than the NEO 5 will benefit from it.
Sound Impressions
It took a total of about 30 seconds to realize that I was dealing with a fantastic iem. It was straight away. I’m not sure what sound signature I feel is correct for the NEO 5. I keep going back and forth between L-shaped with a more forward midrange or a U-shaped sound with a bass emphasis. I say that because the NEO 5 isn’t without treble energy and the midrange is that forward and milky sound. So, I go back and forth. One thing is for sure, the bass is emphasized and is the focal point of this iem. It just is. And that’s not to say that the other areas of the spectrum are any less good. Far from it actually. I find the entire mix to sound so cohesive with this warm organic timbre that never sounds veiled, never sounds harsh and never sounds non-energetic. The NEO 5 may not have the most obvious macro-dynamics, but I do feel that macro-dynamics simply come with slightly warmer waves of dynamism. See, the midrange is crystal clear, clean, with tight transients that help each note to have great definition and transparency all the while keeping a wonderful cohesion between each driver with nice transitions from frequency region to frequency region. On top of that the sound has this holographic quality in a more intimate setting. It’s just nice folks.
Condensed Sound Between the 20’s
So, the low-end is possibly one of the better warm, natural transient and robust bass experiences I’ve had at this price. This is a heavy-handed bass which steals focus and forms a foundation to the sound and is likely hovering around the basshead moniker. It’s deep, but agile, with a density that’s palpable and without a ton of extra harmonics to muddy up the “waters” so to speak. It’s a wonderful low-end for those who enjoy a big bass that keeps good control. The midrange is equally wonderful in its own right as it is wholly affected by the bass in a warm and yet also clean manner. You have a heavier note weight yet with a slightly more forward presence within the mix. Not held back by the bass but propped up by it. Again, good and solid density with a warm vibrance. Perhaps not vibrant enough in luminance for some but tonally very pleasing. The treble is relaxed yet not without energy. Perhaps a bit too warm for some hobbyists. However, I find the treble to actually have a warm openness which does create some air to the sound. It’s smoother than it is crisp yet not without crispness. This is a rich treble, with a good and round note body which always stays in good control yet won’t distract the listener with too much detail information. Really it is rendered very nicely per the overall tuning. Now, overall details aren’t the Star of the show, it’s a “musicality trumps technicalities” type situation yet I still hear good macro-details and depending on the track the micro-details aren’t completely lost. The stage is intimate, yet wide, deep enough for layering, slightly 3D and has a nice fullness.
Bass Region
Maybe the low-end isn’t the star of the show, but it is the focal point in my opinion, and also… it’s pretty darn nice. That’s if you enjoy a near basshead level emphasis that doesn’t sacrifice overall cleanliness in pursuit of that emphasis. At least partially anyways. The bass has a strong rigidity! It’s a very tactile bass, a very textured bass, and an appropriately dense bass. Those three attributes are huge contributing factors of what makes this bass so enchanting and fun. Transients are flattened on attack yet also hard edged which is great. They aren’t soft, pillowy, or fuzzy. The attack is liquid in that it forms to the track being played and does so in a pretty true-toned manner. Following the attack is a quicker than usual decay and note recovery as secondary harmonics and resonances don’t steal the clarity for me. It’s an atmospheric sound with a bowed or spherical warm type of vibrance which has a very outward and forward feel to it. The kicker is that “forward feel” is not entirely intrusive to other areas of the mix.
Good piece to the puzzle
It’s very nice and I hope I’m giving it justice because I really enjoy this bass. Of course it isn’t unheard of to hear good bass. I’ve heard good bass on $50 iems. Hence why the bass isn’t the star of the show. That moniker belongs to how it all comes together, but more on that in a bit. Anyways, most big bass displays will color the spectrum and make it murky to a degree, not the NEO 5. At least not in the sense that a certain level of transparency is clouded, or clarity is veiled. I don’t hear the haze and veil of a larger bass as it basically keeps to itself in that regard and simply adds weight and density to other frequencies. There’s such a dynamic quality to this bass, such a nice note roundness and such an immersive quality for the price. Is it perfect? I honestly don’t even know what that is. The low-end is just nice. It’s layered, good macro-details for a large bass, good timbre and evident texture. Just a good piece to a nice puzzle for $289.
Sub-bass
The lowest of lows reaches deep enough to solidly convince me that the bass guitar in the track “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard is downright nasty. It’s dirty, grimy, and it’s guttural enough to feel the reverb. Note edges have tactility with this track and with the NEO 5 in my ears. Most sets will reach deep with this song. But reaching deep and extension is not exactly the reason why the NEO 5 has a well-tuned sub-bass. I personally like this area because not only does it replay certain instruments with an exaggerated and fun fullness, but it also does so without losing its edge. There’s some physicality to it. Another dimension to how we perceive our music. Another layer to the sound. Now, before I get carried away, there’s a few sets which do this well within the price point and most every other price point. That I’ve heard anyways and so it’s good to see that the NEO 5 is in that company. However, this is not new. But it is very good. The NEO 5 is able to reach a low drone on any track that displays it. There’s a visceral growl in a blatantly unabashed way. It is the focal point folks.
Mid-bass
Now, the mid-bass doesn’t come with the same steroid infused muscle, but it does come with muscle. It’s not entirely affected by the sheer volume of the sub-bass as much as I would’ve thought. The mid-bass is grand and impactful, it can flat-out slam and it will reward the senses with any bass drop or bassline. Bass guitars have the weight they need to sound legitimate; kick drums can come across with that thunderous boom if a track is recorded as such. Like “Billie Jean” by Weezer. The strike of the kick drum is tacky, it’s wet, but the boom is slightly hollow and tight, compact. But that’s just it… If a track is recorded that way and Billie Jean coincidentally is recorded in this manner. The mid-bass doesn’t necessarily hover over the spectrum infusing its robust energy into every note higher in the register in every track. Not so much that it slows down transients, stealing agility. It doesn’t do that. However, It does bleed, make no mistake about that. It also warms the midrange and does add weight. Yet the mid-bass is also able to remain ductile, dexterous, and tight enough to recover quickly. Even in more rapid bass passages as the NEO 5 doesn’t seem to have much of an issue keeping up. At least as well as a larger bass emphasis can meander around more complicated stuff.
Downsides to the Bass Region
Now, I spoke of how clean or clear the bass is, the definition and agility “in respect” to the sheer size of the bass. Very important. However, there is still a slight lack of clarity such as you’ll find on sets with a much snappier bass. I don’t want to get this twisted because reviewers’ words can easily be taken out of context. What I’m referring to is the ability, clarity, and tightness of the bass in respect to the emphasis. That said, the bass is still a more bulbous bass that will not appeal to everyone’s tastes. That’s a fact. This is not some effortlessly punchy type set that steals vibrance from other areas of the mix with a transient attack through decay that is rapid and taught in every transition. You just won’t have that on a bass that I label as “near basshead”. The bass does warm the mix to a degree which will leave those analytical lovers wishing they never heard of the NEO 5. Honestly, I feel a bass of this size will be quite polarizing. It is the focal point after all and not everyone wants a bass region as the focal point.
Its just so darn good!
With all that laid out on the table I want to leave this section with some praise though. I simply cannot believe that analytical lovers would spend their money on this set. Just doing a hair of homework should tell them that. Beyond that, anyone who is opposed to big bass has probably already stopped reading. In that case, those of us left should be fun and guilty pleasure type bass fans. Folks, this bass is very talented and very clean for what it is. More importantly, my word is it addictive! My word is this bass engaging! When the NEO 5 is in my ears, please trust me that I’m seeking out bass lines, bass drops, bass guitars, and kick drums…its good folks.
Midrange
The low-end may not be a focal point, but I find the midrange to be very engaging on the NEO 5. Simply a wonderful midrange at this price. This is another set that has a warmer mid-section, thicker note weight, rich, yet not to the point that the midrange has become lethargic, slow, or veiled sounding. This is a set which does this dance so well. Meaning, it holds onto the warmth from down low yet keeps tight reigns with good note definition, great cohesion and nice control. The midrange is full, it’s robust, and it is more forward than it isn’t. I find this makes for a very compelling sound. You don’t have that concave sort of recession that so many sets are tuned with.
Sweet musical timbre
However, for me it’s the timbre which hits the sweet spot as it comes across slightly colored but also mostly organic and never so energetic that BA or metallic timbre rears its ugly head. There’s none of that on the NEO 5. No grain, no shout, and no sibilance either. It’s just a well-tuned midrange, moderately safe but completely musical. Beyond the richness and the timbre, I should point out that the NEO 5 offers a smooth midrange free of any knife edged notes but still possessing some crispness in the right tracks. However, the possible downside of that is that some textures may be smoothed over. Stuff like strings and the edginess may not be entirely apparent to the ear. To a degree. This is a musical and organic sound and so the NEO 5 does give a more rhythmic and melodious sound rather than a pinpoint and razor sharp sound. Still, transients are tight for the meaty nature of the notes. You have a certain density which embodies every area of the mix, and the midrange is no exception. So, you couple that note density with minimal perceived decay and what you have is a richness that is also pretty clean. It’s just a dense and palpable sounding midrange, kinetic in the energy embodied in that density as I listen to my music with warmer macro-dynamics that never seemed to dissatisfy my listening sessions. It’s simply nice.
Lower-midrange
The lower-mids aren’t the type which are recessed or pushed back into the sound field. Male vocalists never seem as though they are playing second fiddle such as many other sets. In fact, the low-mids are actually a hint forward to my ears. Or better said, the low-mids don’t sound attenuated, which again, it isn’t the norm. Of course, this area steals some measure of warmth from the bass region which comes across as a positive more than anything. Notes do have a nice body and density as I said earlier. They also sound as though they are full and rounded, as though there’s some authority to male voices, some gusto. There also seems to be some dimension to the sound. To an extent anyways. I don’t want to oversell. However, a voice like Chris Stapleton is like butter with the NEO 5. His voice is already coarse, scratchy at times, somewhat abrasive but totally harmonious and wonderful. I like that his voice is forward in the sound field but also plump and those more abrasive notes aren’t exaggerated with this set. Like in the song “Higher”. Sam Tompkins sings “Hi My Name is Insecure” and the NEO 5 gives his voice some meat. Very melodic sounding as the NEO 5 works with his voice rather than works against it. I could say this about almost every male vocalist I’ve listened to over the course of my time with this set.
Upper-Midrange
The upper midrange usually will sound more forward, more present in the mix and more shimmery. Well, of those attributes only the last is true. The upper-mids are more shimmery and vibrant to a very slight degree. However, what I’d also usually say is that the upper-mids are a hair thinner sounding. Not with the NEO 5. The NEO 5 is almost linear in the way it spreads its dynamics. Females in this region come across juicy, not a dry note, they’re very mellifluous and every inflection in most any voice has a certain uplifted richness that never goes overboard. Timbre is always seemingly accurate. Lauren Daigle sings “You Say” with her beautifully raspy voice, similar in almost all ways to Adele. Anyways, the emotion of this song reaches deep folks. You have no energy trying to steal the intent of the song. Her voice is absolutely gorgeous with this set and this song is very well laid out. In fact I’d say that for most females on most tracks. I also hear good separation of instruments and even a slight bit of openness, even in the face of a thicker note weight on this track. Take Olivia Rodrigo in the track “Drivers License”. It’s a highly emotional teenage angst driven sob song that needs the moodiness of a musical and rich sound. Her voice through these monitors will reward your senses. Truly a wonderful sounding set folks.
Instruments
I don’t want to use up too much digital ink explaining instruments listening with this set. Partially because each recording is different, none are really created equal. What one track presents for, let’s say a “violin”, another may totally contradict. So, it’s almost meaningless but I’ll humor you and me. Anyways, piano is very expounded with almost a resounding quality in energetic tracks and can be full and yet sweet in others. However, it is an instrument which always sounds tuneful and realistic to my ears. Strings like acoustic guitar have a nice and forward presence with good body. Again, maybe not so tactile in the bite, but harmonic, nonetheless. Same can be said of the violin, for the most part. Full, dense, good presence in the mix, silvery. Percussion, like the fundamental tone of a cymbal strike is lusher than anything else depending on the recording. To be honest, most instruments sound relatively natural yet with an overlay of subtle warmth. Never too vibrant that they come across unnatural or artificial to my ears. Of course, I couldn’t possibly listen to all instruments and every track can be perceived a bit different but generally instruments come across with a nice fullness.
Downsides to the Midrange
When listing some of the downsides, all I could really come up with are small subjective gripes that some “may” have. Like, those who enjoy a much more detailed sound with more pinpoint and exact transients may not enjoy the rich sound of the NEO 5. There will always be hobbyists who simply don’t enjoy a warmer sounding midrange. Some want that straight neutral to bright sound. They want clean-lined and glass like note edges with a ton of separation and there are sets within the price point which can provide that. Also, you do lose some of the texture and fine-lined details that a more analytical set can provide. Not that the NEO 5 has anything to be ashamed of.
Done well for my taste
I find the midrange on the ISN NEO 5 to be every bit as musical of a midrange as you’ll find at this price, with very nice tone & timbre. Meaty, full, and with a very dynamic sound for such a smooth rendering. Perhaps not as separated as I’d like, or some others would like. Sound layering can come across a bit too close together due to the buttery nature of the sound at times and on some tracks. Not all. So, the midrange isn’t perfect, but it is very well done for my tastes. Great for vocalists, authentic to life, and perfectly good for a great chill session.
Treble Region
Most would probably consider the treble region to be one of the weaker points of this set, but I honestly don’t feel that way. The treble is just a piece of the puzzle which makes the NEO 5 what it is. I suppose they could’ve tuned the NEO 5’s with some selective lifts in the treble region and possibly a slight decrease of the bass. However, I feel that would’ve changed what makes the NEO 5 special. Also, the treble is nice for what it is. There’s just enough lift, just enough levity with absolutely no BA timbre whatsoever, no metallic tizz to the sound, no sibilance. You get no shrillness at all and none of that sheened-out treble tizz. It’s a solid treble. Of course, it won’t be for everyone, and treble heads won’t drool over the NEO 5. That definitely won’t happen. It’s just a needed piece to a good puzzle.
Riding the wave
So anyways, the treble is not the type which will brighten and illuminate every last intonation to every note and won’t bring forth every last bit of minutia and detail hidden inside of every corner of every song. Penon/ISN is all about musicality first and so whatever it takes to achieve that…that’s what they’ll do. For the NEO 5 that meant toning down the highs just a hair. Letting that warmth and weight cast an emotional and melodic feel to the sound without the emphasis of a bright treble washing that out. With that said, the treble still carries some measure of illuminated levity to the mix, some measure of air to the sound as well. The treble isn’t the type which carries that “treble head” style shimmery & sharp bite to notes, or the edginess it takes to achieve that last little bit of abrasiveness with violin, for example. Granted, the NEO 5 isn’t without a slight sparkle and crispness up top either. Just not a sharp and contoured bite on attack. There’s limited immediacy to note attack, less of a hard snap. This is a smooth treble which rides the wave, so to speak. The NEO 5 is all about wavy lines instead of 90-degree angles, just like the rest of the mix. It’s slightly warmer and maybe not as brilliant as some would like. However, the treble is still pretty talented with a nice note structure.
Safe?
Even with the warmth I still hear a well-controlled, rounded, and dense enough vivaciousness and dynamism. Certainly not boring or dull. It’s still explosive when it has to be, it’s still dynamic yet with a less bright vibrance. In the same token, you also don’t have any forced resolution which can at times lead to some rough peaks. On the NEO 5 there’s none of that. I’d definitely consider this treble safely tuned, easy on the ears, never peaky, and always cohesively in step with the mids and bass.
Treble examples
Now, resolution may be a hair less transparent to the ear. Less obvious micro-details and micro-dynamics are a hair less apparent as well. On the other hand, I don’t hear the NEO 5 having much issue with speedier treble passages. Listening to Billy Strings banjo on the track “Secrets” coming in at breakneck speeds replays nicely on the NEO 5. It’s got no trouble with it at all. Yes it’s a hint less separated and distinct between notes, but it doesn’t come across as “congested”. Not in my mind anyways, and I use his tracks for most of my reviews. Or “Bishop School” by Yusef Lateef, which is another track that’s littered with treble activity including instruments such as the saxophone, flute, piano, electric guitar and many more. Quick enough to attack and recover yet smooth enough too not come across as fatiguing. I don’t feel it necessarily “lacks” sparkle. There is some levity and shimmer, but simply to a measured degree. One may desire more and that’s certainly legitimate. But again, I don’t feel the NEO 5 is bereft of it. It’s there, just not as boosted. Anyways, on this track the only thing I’d like to hear is more of a sharp bite, or more of a treble punch to the sound, more crispness. Despite that last statement, the treble does have good body, with good definition for a less intense treble, and furthermore, the NEO 5 has decent extension into the upper treble too.
Good part to a great whole
Certain tracks will yield different results and for sure the treble is not for everyone. I suppose I am a bit of an apologist at the moment because I hear how well the sound (as a whole) comes together on the NEO 5. Also, as much as I’ve spoken of a less energetic treble region, I should also clarify that this does not mean the NEO 5 has no air or openness to the sound. It’s there but in less defined parameters. Instrumentation leans much further over into the musicality and the rhythmic flow of a song rather than the finely cut delineation of an instruments’ note outlines. Also, again, the extension isn’t bad by any stretch. Certainly not top tier treble head type stuff, but not bad. Secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike never come across splashy or tizzy to my ears and the fundamental body of those cymbal strikes come across fairly rich in that body. The treble is a perfectly measured part to a very well-tuned whole.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I feel I’ve covered the downsides with this treble, but I can reiterate some of those points. Listen, this isn’t for those folks who adore bright and gleaming highs. This isn’t the most resolute sounding treble either. Details aren’t going to be etched out in front of you with perfect pinpoint accuracy. This set is musical to the core. The calling card of a Penon/ISN set. The treble doesn’t have that hard and contoured note definition with that satisfying bite all the time either, but it’s not immune to it. Again, it’s there. With all of that said, I’m sure that there will be plenty of folks who feel there isn’t enough air to the sound. There will be those who feel that the NEO 5 doesn’t have the analytical style snappiness either. It’s just the nature of the hobby. Despite that, I think it’s fantastic and is a part of what makes this set special and I’ll die on that hill. Well done ISN.
Technicalities
Soundstage
This brings us to the “Soundstage” portion of my review. I would much rather tell you that the NEO 5 has some vast and cavernous stadium-like stage which stretches the sound field far and wide out before me as though I’m sitting 20 rows back at a concert venue. Of course, I’d be lying if I said that. However, I don’t feel that a big and wide sound field is what makes for a “good” stage all the time. I happen to really like this stage and sound field. It’s actually an intimate stage, closer to the listener, not pushed back. Having said that, that intimate stage is also pretty darn wide and even pretty tall. The soundstage fills up every corner within my mind. It’s full sounding and very immersive in that way. There is decent depth as well but that can be masked over during heavy bass jams at times. Other times I hear good layering of sounds, holographic even. Without question simpler tracks will lead to better layering and separation, so keep that in mind. To be honest, I’m actually finding it hard to explain why I like this psycho-acoustically rendered imaginary sound field that the NEO 5 has. I suppose the fact that the NEO 5 has that bodied sound with such bullish energy, big and controlled bass, gorgeous midrange with those warm, yet clean dynamics. There’s roundness there, there’s dimensionality, there’s proportionate spatial characteristics which form such a fun listening experience for me. I honestly don’t know if I explained myself or if any of you even understand a word of the gibberish I just wrote. But it makes sense to me. It’s decent stage folks.
Separation / Imaging
Now this is an area where I’ll be splitting hairs a bit. On one hand the separation of instruments and vocalists comes across very nicely for a set tuned with such a warm and rich note weight helped in part by the relatively clean and taught sound. For what it is, it’s good. Not every heavy handed and lush sounding set is also as clean as the NEO 5. That said, the NEO 5 also won’t win any awards for its ability to partition off elements within an imaginary stage. Again folks, it’s simply not tuned for that. This set was tuned to bring music to life with solid timbre and musicality first and everything else is icing in the cake. Thankfully the NEO 5 still does an average to slightly-above-average job of delineating between these different pieces of the stage. Also, average is good. Heavier bass tracks do mask over the spectrum to a degree as well as heavily congested tracks but everything else is pretty well separated. Imaging is also in a similar place where it’s honestly not bad at all, but the warmth and fullness can muddle up some of the left to right, front to back separation and thus causing some congestion. Any simpler track that’s less infused with low-end voluptuousness will usually come across much cleaner and image the stage very well with great left to right imagery and even decent depth for layering and dimension.
Detail Retrieval
Detail Retrieval is actually quite nice on this set. Granted it comes across as more of a macro-detail situation, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot hear micro-details at times. Honestly, detail retrieval falls into the same paradox of better on the simpler tracks (obviously) and more constricted on complicated tracks. Just the nature of the tuning. I still maintain that the NEO 5 does very well for the type of tuning that ISN decided upon for this set. When you have such a unique and fun sound with such aggressive lows and a treble that stays non-offensive all the way through you is going to have a set that will likely not be the definition of “detail monster”. Also, we shouldn’t expect it to be. That’s not it’s strong suit! Simple as that. However, if you want the Moondrop Blessing 3 then go and get that set and you’ll adore its analytical style tuning and great technical approach. Not that I have anything against that set but personally I’d take this musical style NEO 5 any and every day of the week. Still, in the end if say the NEO 5 is average to slightly-above-average.
Comparison
Dunu X-Gizaudio DaVinci ($299)
I don’t have a ton of time for comparing these tour review sets unfortunately. However, I did take time to compare the Dunu X-Gizaudio DaVinci with the ISN NEO 5. The DaVinci is one of my absolute favorite sets within the price point and I gave it very good marks in my review (DaVinci Review). Now, the DaVinci is a 2DD and 4BA hybrid set which is very competitive within the price point. It’s a very well made iem and very well accessorized set that’s a warm lovers paradise.
Differences
To begin, the DaVinci are a little larger in sheer size, a hint heavier top. Both sets are very well made as well. I do feel that both sets are very nice looking however I personally favor the DaVinci by a very slight margin. They are both dope looking sets. I will say that both sets are accessorized very well. Both have nice cases, great eartips and both have good cables. Although, the Dunu cable is absolutely awesome, and I may like it a bit better. Really, they both have great cables, but the Dunu cable is that awesome modular style, it’s fat, it’s gorgeous too. Between the two of these under $300 gems I feel the NEO 5 is a more comfortable iem that sits in my ears almost perfectly.
Sound Differences
As far as differences in the sound I would first say that the DaVinci is actually a warmer set, by a hair. Both sets make their living being musical over technical and both sets are cut from the same cloth. Very similar and both are great values for what you get. Before I explain some of the differences that I hear I should 1st state that, I love both of these sets.
Bass
Both sets offer a smooth and clean sound down low with a heavy hitting presence. Both have forward bass regions with deep lows, jarring impact and keep a taught demeanor. I will say that the NEO 5 does have a hair more in perceived quantity to my ears. The NEO 5 can handle faster passages of bass a hint better but both sets have fantastic big bass.
Midrange
The midrange of both sets is warm, smooth, dynamic in their smooth portrayal as well. Now, I do find the DaVinci a bit more natural, but it is so close that it’s almost silly to create a distinction. Both are very well done in this area. Now, the NEO 5 does have a slightly more forward midrange, but the DaVinci comes across slightly better detailed with a hint more vibrance towards the upper mids. I could also probably say that the NEO 5 has the more linear sounding midrange but again, these two are so close in so many ways. Both wonderfully musical.
Treble
In the treble, both sets are what I’d consider relaxed and safe. Both sets really sound very similar here and there really isn’t much of a difference to my ears. I suppose the DaVinci has a slight bit more air to the sound with slightly more open sounding. Detail retrieval is very close on both, treble bite, and extension is very similar too.
Final thoughts on this comparison
Folks, these two sets are so very similar. I guess I’d say that the price increase for the DaVinci is reasonable and probably warranted. However, I absolutely adore these two sets. In my opinion, the better set is the set that’s in my ears between the two of these. Both amazing and both supremely musical. Just woderfully fun sounding sets. Take your pick and you cannot lose.
Is it worth the asking price?
This is a game of inches folks. We measure what is worthy of high price tags by incremental refinements… most of the time. We pay for subtle differences… all the time. From a purely logical and conservative approach, this is the hardest question for me to answer every review because I can find sets ¼ of the price that get me ¾ of the sound. Now, from a hobbyist perspective who simply wants the best we can get for our money, incremental or not, this is the easiest question to answer. Coincidentally, it’s for the hobbyist that I draw these conclusions. At which point I’d say with 100% assurance that the NEO 5 is worth every last penny, and you’ll be rewarded every time you decide to place them in your ears. Oh, one more caveat; The tuning has to agree with you. You cannot be the Blessing 3 guy and expect to be as giddy as I am about this set. You gotta like the tuning friends.
The Why…
Because the NEO 5 has a solid unboxing that comes with a nice ISN S4 cable, a cool case and some very solid tips. Also, because the build is one of the most ergonomic builds I’ve ever put into my ears. Not to mention that the NEO 5 is very light too. However, as always, the real worth of any personal audio product comes down to the sound and that just so happens to be the NEO 5’s superpower. This set sounds fantastic! That bass is just delicious, with a sub-bass rumble that will vibrate your pupils while keeping in good control. It’s a very dense bass with great texture and a palpable feel to it. Also, it slams, but only when called upon. The bass levels out before 250 HZ which is a nice place for a clean transition into the midrange. It’s just good. Speaking of the midrange, it’s juicy, rich, and wonderful for vocalists. Both male and females come across very well listening with the NEO 5. Tight transient attack through decay for such a rich sound which really helps the NEO 5 to feel clean, to sound very well controlled across the mix. The mids are forward with great presence and a very organic timbre, very natural sounding with only a slightly warm coloration bringing on a really engaging and musical sound. The treble is non-offensive, just enough sparkle, very smooth and with good extension into the upper treble. I find the treble works very well alongside the other frequencies.
Special Sauce
To be honest, I feel the NEO 5 is a no-brainer type set at the price. Just a completely bewitching and mesmeric listen if that is what you are going for. For me the NEO 5 is really the whole package and only really misses in some technical areas to a very slight degree. The “pros” so far outweigh the “cons” that the “cons” don’t really feel like “cons” at all. Yes, the NEO 5 does have to contend with some other sets at or around the price point. Also, yes… there are some fantastic iems both below and above the $289 price that ISN is asking. There’re even some sets from within Penon/ISN that the NEO 5 is competing with. No question it’s a tough price point. Still, the NEO 5 does have a sort of “special sauce” about it that can only really be understood by spending time with them, and I do believe that ISN crafted a set in the ISN NEO 5 which does distance itself from the other sets in the price point very well. Absolutely it is worth the $289 to own it.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the ISN NEO 5 ratings below, that would be $250-$350 iems with any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $250-$350 US hybrid iems is a fairly large sized scope of iems, and it’s also extremely competitive. It should mean something pretty special to see a rating above a “9.0”. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 8.5 Built nice.
–Look: 8.8 Very nice purple/maroon transparent design.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.8 One of the best fits that I’ve had.
–Accessories: 9.3 Very nice unboxing experience.
–Overall: 9.1🔥🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.6 Organic to the core.
–Bass: 9.6 Big, extended, impactful and fantastic.
–Midrange: 9.4 Musical, engaging, great note body.
–Treble: 8.4 Non-fatiguing, smooth, safe.
–Technicalities: 7.7 Not its forte, but not bad at all.
–Musicality: 9.7 Very musical, through & through.
–Overall: 9.1🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
Looking at the ratings above I honestly don’t feel there is even one that would garner an argument. I rated the NEO 5 against any and all iems between the price range of $250 and $350. Here’s the kicker, I have to have actually heard these other sets and spent time with them. I can promise you I haven’t heard them all folks. This rating is based on my experience so please just skim over and keep moving. Basically, take them for a grain of salt. I have about six sets in front of me besides the NEO 5 which fall into this category so… take that for what it is. I’ve spent good and quality time with quite a few more as well and so there’s some I’m going off of memory. Again, grains of salt.
Explain Yourself!
I really don’t feel like explaining anything here because I really do feel good about my thoughts, but I also don’t feel good about the number of sets I rated against. However, I could always see someone having a different opinion over the “Bass” rating. Some will probably feel it’s too emphasized and for those folks I could definitely see a much lower score. As for myself I’m addicted to the NEO 5’s low-end. Just a visceral and meaty sound that isn’t plump with extra fat but with raw and dense muscle. It rumbles in the cleanest way possible for the price and the bass isn’t slow and laggy either. This is a low-end which can keep up with most any bass passage. However, I wouldn’t argue with any of you if you didn’t agree, we like what we like and that’s it. Still, for me and my library and my personal joy I feel a “9.6” is being conservative. I could see others feeling the “Technicalities” rating should be either higher or lower as well. It’s not an exact science folks and I’m sure I could have gone one way or another in this. Everything else is locked in and published. Obviously, you can comment if you disagree, but nobody is ever wrong in a subjective hobby, so I probably won’t argue. Lol.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the ISN NEO 5, I first have to thank everyone at Audio Geeks United States Tour as well as Penon for providing the ISN NEO 5 for me to review. Always it means a lot to be able to listen to sets I usually wouldn’t be able to. So, thank you very much!
Thank you!
Also, thank you for clicking on the link and checking out this review. It always means the world to everyone at Mobileaudiophile.com. You guys and gals are the reason we even have a site to publish to. Every click helps and staying awhile helps and so we are very grateful to you all. Thank you, I really do hope this review has helped you even a little bit in understanding the NEO 5.
Different Perspectives
Now that you’ve read my full review, I do hope you’ll click some other links on other reviews out there. It’ll help you even more to understand the NEO 5 and to make a much better educated decision before you go and plop almost $300 down on this set. It’s always a good idea to get other perspectives from other reviewers. So please listen to, watch, or read other thoughts about this set folks and I do hope you find the perfect set for your listening sessions. Okay folks, I think I’m done! I hope each and every one of you are well and good. Please stay as safe as you are able and always… God Bless!
