ivipQ IQ-14 Shanhai Review
Intro
This review and feature covers one of the latest “under $100” releases from the audio brand ivipQ named the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai. For your info, I’ll simply use the name “Shanhai” for review purposes. Also, the Shanhai comes in with an MSRP of right around $98, but the sales price has been pretty persistent around $66. So many brands do this, where they provide an MSRP, but never sell at that price. Anyways, I was very intrigued by this budget oriented iem. This “intrigue” begun upon hearing of its driver configuration from some friends within the community. To be exact the Shanhai is a multi-driver iem consisting of three dynamic drivers on each side. Folks, I love a well-developed dynamic driver earphone. Always have. I love the innate tonality of a DD, as well as the natural resonant inflections and organic timbre which come from a dynamic driver. Not that I’m telling you all something you aren’t aware of. However, when a good DD is done right, they can create some of the most fundamentally enthralling listening sessions. Of course, I could say the same for most any driver used today. When implemented well they’ll usually sound pretty great. That said, there’s some other secret sauce inherent in a dynamic driver that other driver types simply aren’t as easy to replicate all the time. So, hearing ivipQ was going to present their own 3DD model was something my ears had to hear.
ivipQ
To be honest with you all, I have only ever heard one other ivipQ iem. That is the IvipQ V-13 Conch. I’ve had that set for quite some time but decided to not review it as time constraints and a few other factors kept me from publishing. I would explain but you aren’t here for that, and I don’t have the patience to write it all out. It’s actually a solid set though, for the price. Anyways, as most of you already are well aware ivipQ actually made their name as cable makers. We’ve seen a few cable brands branch out into the iem business of late. I wouldn’t say it’s a perfectly natural progression but ivipQ seems to have really hit their stride. In my opinion and gauging consumer interest it seems fairly obvious that ivipQ has a pretty large fan base. One thing I can say about ivipQ is that they obviously have some high standards for the products they put to market. I really do respect that. From the outside looking in they seem like a really dedicated group of enthusiastic people who enjoy their craft. I absolutely must try more of their iems.
Competition
Okay, I just now received the Shanhai and listened to it for a little bit along with placing it in the burn-in station for a few days. After hearing them I can tell that it is going to compete. So, this is the one section which I feel must be in just about every one of my intros for every single set that I review. That is, there’s quite a lot of solid “competition” within the price point that the Shanhai battles in. I am going to say between $50 and $100. I honestly don’t think ivipQ ever intended to sell the Shanhai at its MSRP of $98. It’s been stuck with that sale price of $66 for a while now. At any rate, the Shanhai truly competes within this range folks. I know you hear this alot, I get it. I’d probably be rolling my eyes reading this too. Still, think now of all the iems which could be considered “tops” within the range. Folks, it is daunting for any set, to say the least. Why any brand would even try to craft a set between $50 and $100 anymore is beyond me. The competition is stacked! Without question, any iem within this range absolutely has to stand out. In one way or another. That is what I’m trying to find out. I’ve already decided this set is definitely solid and one that I am going to review (I only review what I enjoy). So, I know it’s good. However, how good is it? Where does it fit? For whom is the Shanhai for? I will try to answer those questions and hopefully answer a few more that I haven’t even thought of yet. With that said, I’m ready to get going on this. I’ll see you all in about two weeks folks. So, without further ado, the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai everyone…
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Shanhai Pros
-Great all-resin build
-The design is stellar, no two are the same
-Great provided case
-Very full sound, immersive, holographic for the price
-Timbre is lush/organic with a very nice musical nature
-Deep and palpable bass, robust, authoritative, clean for the quantity
-Milky midrange, forward, melodic, lush, yet clean
-The Shanhai has a wonderful sound for vocalists
-Non-fatiguing, very competent treble region, very nice treble
-Imaging
-Spacious and even layered soundstage
Shanhai Cons
-Large shells, may be too large for some ears
-Provided eartips aren’t great and don’t help the Shanhai
-This set shines with power, may need a better source device
-Those analytical lovers are not going to enjoy this set
-Not the most vivacious macro-dynamics
-Not a very vivacious or energetic midrange (I don’t mind, some will)
-Detail retrieval is not the greatest, about average
-Competition
Gear used for testing
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The packaging that ivipQ provides is actually quite classy. I cannot state enough how nice the box alone is. It doesn’t have some elaborate theme, or box art, or graphic. Really you simply have a blue box with ivipQ centered on the top. That’s it. Now, take the top off of the box top and what you’ll see is the absolutely gorgeous carrying case. Now, take out the case, open it up, and you’ll see the cable, tips, and Shanhai earphones. Really a simple packaging that’s not very embellished in ornate elegance. Actually, it’s really cut-n-dry, but nice enough, nonetheless.
Eartips
This is one point of contention for me. Can any of you explain why in the world a brand would add into the packaging eartips which don’t bring out the best in their earphones? Please tell me. So many brands do this. As if the eartips are an afterthought! Brands! Hear me now, don’t operate this way! Eartips are such a low-cost way to bring out the best sonics with your earphones. Why would you not want to provide the absolute best pairing possible? Anyways, I don’t want to sh*t on them too hard because so many brands do this. Nothing against ivipQ at all. They probably figure you are going to tip roll anyway. Coincidentally, that’s exactly what I had to do. I actually went with some of my favorite eartips, the Dunu S&S and KBear 07 tips. Friends, if ever there was a perfect fitting eartip for me, it’d be the 07’s and the S&S tips. I tried many tips with the Shanhai, but kept coming back to these two styles. I should note that the majority of listening was with the S&S tips for a deeper fit. I like both styles a lot and not just for their fit either. Actually, they both provided a crisper sound with a more taut bass then other tips and the upper-mids sounded slightly more pronounced, in a controlled manner with the 07’s & S&S. That’s exactly what I heard with these tips. So, I’m not you and your own personal ear anatomy is most definitely different, but I do feel you should take the time to find the best tips for you. If I’m being honest, and I am, the S&S are probably my absolute favorite and bring the Shanhai to its best place sonically. Hence why I used them the most.
Carrying Case
Now, if eartips are a sour point of the packaging, the carrying case is definitely a highlight. What a beautiful and big carrying case! It’s awesome. One of the coolest looking cases too. It’s got this faux leather covering over a hard case, fairly large too. Able to easily fit the Shanhai, the cable, extra tips, and a dongle dac if you so choose. The case itself is this marbled burgundy colorway with a very nice zipper, stitching, and it’s just a sweet inclusion within the packaging. Now, I rarely use any earphone cases, but I’ve used this one everyday. I throw it into my backpack and go about my day. It goes with me to my office at work everyday. Everyone stops and asks what it is, which is a pretty good indication that ivipQ hit a homerun with it. Nice job ivipQ.
Cable
Okay, so this brings us to the cable provided with the Shanhai. Now, I’ve tried to find information on this cable but there just isn’t anything out there that is easy to find. At any rate, what I do know is that the cable provided is an 8-core black 2-pin cable which I believe to be silver-plated copper and terminates in a 4.4 balanced jack. The cable is very pliable, very easy to use. My only point of contention here is that I don’t feel that black is the best colorway for the Shanhai. Yes, I am a very moderate cable snob. Aesthetics have to work for me. So, while it’s a nice cable that I will use with another set, I did swap cables to a better cable both in the way it looks as well as sonically. That cable is the KBear Chord 4.4 balanced. I’m telling you; I must have gone through about 15 different cables until I landed on the Chord. It is truly one of the best budget cables out there. It’s made of silver-plated OFC wire mixed with graphene and the sonics are very impressive with this mixture attached to the Shanhai. Yes, the included cable is great, and yes, it sounds good too. However, it’s just not aesthetically pleasing to my eyes and so I had to swap. You may not think it looks great. I don’t blame you one bit. No doubt the included cable performs the way it should and is a perfectly solid cable.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
So, the IQ-14 is made almost entirely of 3D printed resin/acrylic with a wonderful smooth shape and texture to the earphones. The only piece which isn’t resin are the nozzles, which are made of some sort of metal. Either aluminum or stainless steel, perhaps. At any rate, the build is solid. Not unlike a thousand other all-resin sets, but I will say that the Shanhai feels nice in hand and is very ergonomic for my ears. The nozzles are a hair longer than average which provides a slightly deeper fit. I had a very nice seal with the Shanhai. The nozzles are roughly about 6mm in width which is basically standard anymore. I only noticed one vent on the back of the shells, near the 2-pin connector. Honestly folks, we’ve seen all-resin sets built beautifully for as low as $30. Sets like the Kiwi Ears Cadenza come to mind. So, the build isn’t going to change your life. However, it’s nice. The Shells are rather large to accommodate the three dynamic drivers and the large acoustic cavity of the Shanhai. They may be a hint large for some of you, but they are great for me. Altogether, it’s a nice build.
Design
Now the design is one which I’m pretty impressed with. You can only go so many ways in the design arena anymore as everything has been done. However, the Shanhai has absolutely striking faceplates. I love the marbled colors. I see deep black as the base color with slightly marbled light browns and contrasting light blues and dark blues. Glitter is also infused into the paint which has been used in the design. Friends, once you look upon this set into the right light, you’ll see the colors pop out. In my pictures I had to really get my lighting right to bring them (colors) out because upon first looking at the Shanhai without good lighting the blue colors are subtly subdued and not as vibrant. You need light. Well, at least my set needs it. Yet once you do these colors just jump out at you. Also, there’s a nicely placed silver colored “ivipQ” at the bottom of the faceplate which looks classy, non-intrusive, and it fits the overall aesthetic well. It’s truly a gorgeous set. Add in the fact that the silver nozzles are a great contrast to the blended colorway of the faceplate. I so appreciate artistic expression, and I love to see that in a set of earphones. Very cool looking. That said, once again, the Shanhai isn’t alone in this type of design. In fact, there’s about a hundred other sets with similar design characteristics.
Internals
As I’ve said, the Shanhai is a triple dynamic driver earphone with three high quality drivers. You can tell. No distortions at high volumes, clean and crisp note outlines. They are solid drivers implemented well. The 1st driver is a 10mm beryllium coated dynamic driver with a moving coil for the highs (I believe). Next, they added in a coaxial mounted setup involving one 10mm composite diaphragm driver hooked to a 6mm titanium plated dynamic driver. IvipQ states that their customized multi-unit moving coils are similar to a balanced armature in how they are implemented.
Fit / Comfort
I already briefly spoke on this in the “Build Quality” section but I’ll reiterate here. Yes, the Shanhai fits my ears like a perfect form fitting glove. Like they grew there. I mean perfectly! It couldn’t get any more form fitting for me. Again, deep insertion works best for me. I would find some tips which seal well first and hopefully the Shanhai isn’t too large for your ears. The Shanhai is a very comfortable set, not too heavy, smooth and rounded corners everywhere. Also, isolation is better than most sets I feel. Really some decent passive noise isolation.
Drivability
Sensitivity / Output-Power
The IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai is rated with an impedance of right around 16 ohms and a sensitivity of around 104 db’s. At least that’s what the marketing for the Shanhai states. So, the Shanhai is certainly sensitive enough for good volume headroom with devices like smartphones, weak dongles, tablets (iPad). I actually check every set with my iPad, with my other Android phones, and with a few cheapo Amazon 3.5 single ended dongles. I found that I could fairly easily get the Shanhai to volume well. That said, there’s a reason that ivipQ sends out this set with a 4.4 balanced cable. It likes juice. Please trust me, this set is a 3DD iem and it wants and deserves some power. Without a doubt, the Shanhai sounds great using the 4.4 balanced connection on my dongles like the EPZ TP50, Aful SnowyNight, Simgot Dew4x, Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, EPZ TP35, among others. You want to go with high gain (if your dongle has this ability) and use the 4.4 port. It’ll bring out the best, clearest, cleanest, and altogether tightest sound out of the Shanhai. I found that my better sources like the Shanling M6 Ultra, the iBasso DX240, Hiby R4 and Fiio Q15 all really drive this set well. You can quite easily hear the improvements over weker sources. Usually, multiple dynamic driver earphones will do well to have more power added to the listening experience and the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai is no different.
Source Pairing
Now, the Shanhai comes across warm/neutral to my ears. Right in that sweet spot for device pairing. For me personally, I like the Fiio Q15 the most with its neutral take on my music. The two just fit. However, like is aid the Shanhai is in that sweet spot and I listened quite a lot with my Shanling M6 Ultra (warm/neutral). Those four AK4493SEQ dac chips really sing with this set. The iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 installed did the same. Now, I don’t enjoy brighter source devices with the Shanhai. I have a few which simply bring on a slightly more artificial sound in some areas. That all said, I don’t think you’ll have much trouble pairing anything tonally with the Shanhai.
What do you need?
Like I said, I’d try to get my hands on a nice dongle dac with good enough power, at the least. Yes, you can listen to the Shanhai with lesser powerful sources, but you won’t be getting the most from this 3DD set. The Shanhai also sounds wonderful with good and clean sources. I like neutral source devices the best but even warm/neutral sounds wonderful. It really comes down to your preferences. So, give it some juice and give it more high-fidelity sources and you’ll be in for a quality listening session.
Sound Impressions
*Note: prior to any critical listening I let the Shanhai burn-in for a total of about three full days. Over 70 hours. I most definitely feel that anyone getting this set should probably do the same. Yes, there is an improvement. I paid close attention to this one with the before and after effect being fairly obvious. As one should expect with dynamic drivers. Not to mention that the Shanhai has a total of three, and one is beryllium plated as well as titanium. Two types which most certainly need it. Beyond that, all critical listening was completed using flac or better files which are stored on my devices. I stream occasionally but the grand majority is with stored files. I use UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) for my Android music player, for the most part. There are a couple dongle dacs that I like better with Hiby Music Player and anything Bluetooth I use Poweramp. Also, I mainly used Dunu S&S eartips as well as KBear 07 tips at times. I used the KBear Chord cable for all critical listening as well.
How does it sound?
The Shanhai has a very nice warm rendition of what I’d call a dynamically balanced sound. What that means is that the dynamism of each area of the mix comes across equal. I’d call the Shanhai a U-shaped to even W-shaped sound with boosted bass, forward mids, and nicely emphasized highs. I would agree with either U or W. I could see an argument for both actually. In my opinion the Shanhai has a warm/neutral tonal coloration. I definitely hear a slight warmth adding a sense of weight to most notes across the mix. However, that warmth is not all-encompassing. Certainly there’s also some vibrance which can be found, especially throughout the midrange which projects very nicely at the listener. The Shanhai also has some dimension to the sound as well. Obviously, this is a budget iem and so tailoring our expectations may be a wise move, but I am actually very impressed. Some folks in the hobby (that I completely trust) call the Shanhai a baby Penon Serial, which is really saying a lot. Would I go that far? Eh, maybe. I mean, the Shanhai has all the fundamental tuning measures to come across in that illustrious light. However, to me it’s the dimensionality of the sound field in conjunction with the provided emphasis to different areas of the mix which harkens back to the DNA of a set like the Serial. Does the Shanhai render the Serial obsolete? Absolutely not. I won’t sign off on that. However, the sound quality of this set certainly puts it in “best of class” territory for me, which is quite a compliment to the people of ivipQ.
Sound cont…
Furthermore, the Shanhai has a mostly smooth delivery throughout the mix with just enough crispness in more dynamic attack moments along with certain harmonics when called upon. Basically, the Shanhai is not some drab and boring sounding set. While the dynamic contrast isn’t screaming “best in class macro dynamics”, I do hear enough of a contrast and vivacious energy to add an element of vigor, some spice (if you will). It has enough well placed and well-timed luster to convincingly replicate different instrumentation and vocal passages in my music. I’d characterize the Shanhai as easy on the ears. Nothing comes across hot. I don’t hear any undue sharpness, and the timbre is actually very nicely organic. Nothing metallic at all as the triple DD setup certainly leans natural. As one should expect with a multi-DD set. Though that certainly isn’t a guarantee with all DD configured iems. Also, note weight has some lushness, some richness. I don’t hear anything remotely dry or frail sounding. There is some extra energy as you move up the frequency, but it always comes across milky and slightly heavier in note body.
Technical beast?
Beyond energy and timbre, the Shanhai is not going to win any awards for its technical prowess. To put it bluntly, I don’t think many people will be calling the Shanhai a “technical beast”. Yes it can surprise you from time to time but this is not an analytically tuned iem. In the “macro” sense I hear a very clean and relatively clear sound which provides plenty of macro-details. That said, micro-detail retrieval is about average for what you should expect for the cost. Separation is about average as well but I’ll explain that later. Now, Imaging is actually quite solid on this set as well as a nicely layered approach to the sound field. This is not a flat plain of sound in front of the listener. Again, I will cover all of that later in this review. Honestly, the Shanhai is a musicality-first iem which leans much more towards the emotional rather than the clinical. Truly a special budget iem if what you desire is a great set for fatigue-free casual listening while also getting a very solid performer in every area of the mix. Enough of a performer to help the Shanhai stand apart from the competition. Let’s check out each 3rd of the mix.
Bass Region
The low-end of the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai certainly has plenty of oomph to carry most any genre in a fulfilling manner for the cost. This is the type of budget bass that doesn’t necessarily feel like a budget bass. I really like the tuning here folks. What ivipQ did was tune this low-end with a nice dynamic balance with the mids and highs. As emphasized as the Shanhai is in this region, I still don’t feel it’s a blatant focus of this set. Most certainly the bass has the most effect on the rest of the mix though. However, in my opinion, this is a tuning by committee. Yes, the bass is deep, and yes, it’s bulbous enough too. But also, this isn’t the type of low-end which comes across murky or too muddy. It’s actually fairly well defined with very nice organic style timbre. The Shanhai has what I consider a semi rigid note outline. Maybe slightly cushioned, but very good density to every fundamental note. I always say it’s like a hammer wrapped in a sock. Also, I have no idea why it has to be a sock. Steel covered in cotton? So anyways, what I’m trying to say is that there’s a very solid note body down low with a full and robust sound. Maybe a hint pillowy on attack but decay comes across naturally, not too fast, not too slow. More atmospheric yet never sluggish. The bass region is cleaner than it isn’t with good outward radial projection of low-end notes which sound fairly rounded, not flat, and not one-noted (for most tracks). Also, the Shanhai’s low-end does bleed into the midrange, yet in a more controlled manner. Like a healthy dose of warmth without the detrimental side effects of a veiled midrange. The bass is solid folks.
Better performers?
That said, for fans of snappy and speedy bass the Shanhai may not be your perfect preference. I do feel that for the size and convexity of the bass it is fairly tight. The low-end is certainly less defined and refined than some iems on the market within the price range. In truth, this is not some bass that you can throw any complicated and speedy bass passage at and it’ll shine. There are definitely some speedier bass tracks which tend to blur the sound field a bit with the Shanhai. Which is to be expected at this cost and for such an emphasis. Unless ivipQ decided to use a planar, balanced armature, or simply tune this set with a more analytical approach, which they didn’t. However, I happen to really enjoy what they did. It’s a fun approach, bullish enough, deep enough, full enough, and just snappy enough for a quality listen. I just want you to know what you are getting.
Sub-Bass
The sublevels of the bass region hit pretty deep in the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai. You can bet that once you turn on your favorite track with that gravelly and meaty bass that the Shanhai will reciprocate with plenty of low-droning muscle of its own. Especially with tracks which are overtly emphasized in this region. The sub-bass has what I consider as a very nice haptic feel to it. You get that palpable and visceral vibratory goodness… within reason. Enough for a deep bass drop like you get in “2040” by Lil Baby and Lil Durk to sound flat-out potent, undiluted, and pretty intense, with a solid initial attack carrying mass until the timely decay. Or “Tell Me What’s on Your Mind” by The Decemberists. This is another bone rattling vibratory bass which will come across guttural on any set, just from how it’s recorded. However, the Shanhai really does an adequate job of separating the initial bassline from the heavy drums which run in tandem with that bassline. Both clean, well-executed, and the Shanhai never loses the clarity of that low droning and weighty bass. I’m not saying the sub-bass will change your life, vibrate your earlobes, or render you speechless. Shoot, I’m not even saying that it’s best in class. What I am trying to get across is that ivipQ did a very solid job with a nice driver. IvipQ tuned a deep, tactile, and very physical sub-bass which never sounds sloppy in respect to the tuning.
Mid-Bass
Now, the mid-bass kind of shares the spotlight with the sub-bass. Perhaps to a slightly lesser degree. However, to my ears it’s very hard to discern which range carries the most emphasis. I say that because the Shanhai has some really nice impact. Maybe not a fast-twitch impact that hits and decays like a good BA or planar. But it has some hard, earthy, and organic slam. The mid-bass offers so many instruments and vocalists some real fullness and weight. Like bass guitars, kick drums, baritones, even a solid double-bass. Like the deep clean bass guitar which begins the song “Lone Star Lake” by Waxahatchee. The Shanhai presents a very satisfying and mass filled bassline with a nice and clean note edge. Yet it doesn’t seem to mask the other frequencies to the point of losing all technical abilities. Or the pounding kick drums which hit straight out the gate in the track “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects. The Shanhai has a good and tacky initial attack with pointed and acute energy followed by the thunderous and cavernous resonant boom. Again, full, weighted, yet never to the point of creating a problem in the mix. Again, the mid-bass is not some ultra-agile and peppery bass that moves at breakneck speeds. But it is agile enough, dexterous enough, and it was tuned to a nice balance. Never usually overcrowding the frequency and coming through with nice note definition. Nice for a budget iem.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The biggest gripe that some will likely have is the emphasis and all that comes with a more bass focused sound. Not everyone yearns for a fuller sounding bass region. I personally feel that the overall balance is great, and the bass is tuned very well, but I know many who much more enjoy an even better-defined bass with better details, more clean-cut, snappier, tighter in transient attack through decay. Basically, these tyoes simply don’t like a bass focus, at all. I understand that too as I sometimes prefer a less full low-end. I can tell you that in bass heavy tracks the low-end will mask some of the finer details, and the note delivery on the Shanhai is not perfectly contoured and distinct. Naturally, this is a budget iem and nothing is perfect, but for what the Shanhai is and for how it was tuned I really do enjoy the sound down low. I have so many referenced tracks in my notes where I was very impressed. All in all, the bass is great.
Midrange
The midrange of the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai may just be the crown jewel of this set. What you have is a more forward sitting midrange that is very harmonic and emotionally gratifying. If you are the type who desires those smoothly rendered yet intimate sounding vocals, instruments with organic timbre, acoustic sets with velvet style fluidity, or just someone who enjoys a non-offensive yet very engaging sound then I think I may have a set for you to try out. For the cost, the Shanhai really does a wonderful job of projecting vocalists and instrumentation toward the listener. Close enough that W-shaped or U-shaped is the closest resemblance to what I hear. Certainly not pushed back or recessed and not so close that anything comes across boxy or out of position. Like I said, the Shanhai is smooth to my ears, yet it also doesn’t lack in crispness and some slight sparkle when my music calls for it. Also, for a set teetering towards warm, thicker note weight, rich, and not a ton of air to the sound (there’s enough), it is nice to hear decent detail retrieval and a non-congested soundstage. Transient attack through sustain is what I’d call “natural” and I hear a mostly black background, clean note outlines, a slight edge at the crest of notes as well. Honestly, the 3DD setup is more refined than I would’ve thought with a nice depth of field that gives a sense of layering, proportion, scale, and dimensionality. Obviously, we have to look through the lenses of a budget iem, yet against what’s out there at this cost I’d say the Shanhai is a very nice midrange set.
Lower-midrange
The low mids have a nice amount of bleed from the bass region which comes across with just enough to cremate that lush sound. Not so much that we lose the note edge or congest adjacent notes, but enough to give notes some body, some authority. Now, the low-mids may be a hair more recessed (if you want to call it that) than the upper portions of the midrange. They aren’t as energetic either. Those who enjoy a more vivacious and pristine sound in this region without the gradual bass bleed may not love what the Shanhai can do. Furthermore, I’d probably say that if this midrange had a weak point, it’d likely be the low-mids. Though I couldn’t possibly sit here and say that the Shanhai lacks engagement, and I really enjoy male singers on this set too. Males have some textured and authoritative vocals with very nice note density. They also still have nice presence in the mix as the fundamental body to each note has some mass, yet I also hear a titch of vibrance too, which helps to give males some prominence. Not so much that the sound is out of whack or disjointed either. Again, the low-mids maintain the overall balance of the sound quite well.
Low-Mids cont…
Chris Stapleton sings “Sometimes I Cry” and the Shanhai actually nails his voice, the instruments too as the timbre is very organic, nothing grainy either. I could go through many male singers and the story would be the same; rich, clean for the tuning, nice definition, good presence. Perhaps missing just a touch of luminance, but overall, very nice to the ear. I do hear some blending of sounds in really complicated tracks, but that should probably go without saying. Again, budget iem, lusher sound, yet no real blatant drawbacks either. I quite enjoy both male vocalists as well as instruments in the low-midrange. I should also add that macro-details are pretty solid, and you’ll even hear some really good micro-details in certain tracks too. Really a nice sounding lower-midrange that doesn’t have many distinct flaws. Vocals are great, technically there’s nothing egregiously bad, and notes have some mass to them. Not bad at all.
Upper-Midrange
This brings us to the upper-mids where females are generally featured the most, as far as vocalists are concerned anyways. Females like Adele in “Hello” come across so beautifully folks. I could go on and on over females on the Shanhai. “I Can Change” by Lake Street Dive is another vocal clinic put in by this set. What you have once again is good body to notes, milky, great projection of vocals and instrumentation and the Shanhai also has plenty of sparkle. This is not a drab and dull region at all. There’s some luster to enhance the note edges, add some crispness, and provide a little glitter to females like Lady Gaga in “I’ll Always Remember Us This Way”. The Shanhai can play back a breathy voice in such an elegant and flowery way. Yet, the Shanhai can also propel a resounding voice like Sia very well. Add to that, there’s some decent snap to percussion, like snares and the fundamental tone of a cymbal strike etc. Strings have just enough edge and abrasiveness along great trailing harmonics. Woodwind instruments come across as tuneful for me as well. In truth, I don’t feel that any instrument lacks or sounds artificial in the upper-mids at all. Additionally, I hear no real drawbacks at all, for both instruments and female vocalists. Of course, we need to keep our expectations and suppositions in check. To an extent. That said, I feel that the Shanhai’s midrange is really great. Nice work ivipQ.
Downsides to the Midrange
I really don’t hear any definite downsides in this midrange. Once again, the only real issues will come from folks who simply don’t want any warmth in their mids. We all know those people who want that bass shelf to flatten before 200hz, clean as a whistle, crystal clear and transparent. I could also say that those people probably want a bit more crispy and crunchy energy. They want analytical, clinical, fast, and glass lined. Nothing remotely lush. I’d definitely say that those people may want to keep looking because the Shanhai is not that. Though, for me and my library I feel the Shanhai’s midrange is very close to “Tops in Class”. Again, for me. It’s just too juicy, moist notes, never dry, never sibilant, great note body, very nice presence against the mix, and the soundstage is very diverse and layered for a set at this cost. In my opinion the midrange is the Shanhai’s best range.
Treble Region
The treble region of the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai is the type which stays in its lane, never too rambunctious, never sloppy, nice control, never too sharp. This is a more non-offensive sound, easy going, and the emphasis is enough to simply remain balanced. However, I couldn’t be happier with the actual performance of the treble on this set. Folks, it is really a very talented region. This one I didn’t expect at all. However, that treble driver does some solid work at providing really good edge detail, details in general, enough crispness to add definition and enough soft air to create separation. Yes, the treble is toned down and not the most brilliant. But it’s also not rolled-off, dark, or boring. I hear just enough zing up top to bring some good sparkle to my music as well. To add to that, there’s enough brilliance to provide other areas of the mix with some levity, some shimmer, some snap and subtle crunch too. For a non-fatiguing style treble the Shanhai doesn’t lack at all.
Performs very well
I also hear some decent bite to notes in this region too. Again, there’s some crunch or crispness that shows up with a decent feel to treble notes. It has just enough vibrancy to create a sense of edginess, yet at the same time the treble remains cohesive with the smooth replay of the rest of the mix. However, the most surprising attribute of the treble has got to be its detail retrieval up top without the help of forced resolution. This tells me that not only has ivipQ tuned this set very well, but the 6mm dynamic driver is tuned to be very agile. Almost in the same vein as a balanced armature yet a hair more organic, in my opinion. It’s able to contour treble notes in a way that illuminates the subtle details just by sheer cleanliness and driver control. The only real caveat would be in bass heavy tracks and complicated/congested tracks, but beyond that the Shanhai performs very well.
Extension
Now, extension into the upper treble is about average. Basically, it’s good. I don’t hear any roll-off yet at the same time that area of the mix isn’t not lifted and magnified through the tuning. Just a nice rendition of different instruments and harmonics. Such as, the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike which really come across with some body to them. Granted, every track is different in how they are recorded and not every track displays stuff like cymbals in a prominent way. I can tell you that more often than not I hear a sound that has some note density in the upper-highs, and I really don’t hear anything outright splashy or smeared in treble tizz. Again, ivipQ did a nice job of highlighting this region without boosting the treble to the moon. Obviously, there are plenty of iems within the Shanhai’s price point which are actually tuned to illuminate this region. No doubt that the Shanhai is not for treble heads. I feel that the treble is very well done for what it is, but it won’t please those people, I wouldn’t think.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I’d say the only true “downside” would be for those who greatly desire a heavily boosted treble region. I feel that the treble is very well tuned to fit the overall scheme of the Shanhai. However, those treble bois will likely want to keep looking. Friends, I find it very hard to fault anything on this set and that goes for the treble region too. It’s just very well done. I keep adding “for what it is, and for how it was tuned”. I think this is important because I can only judge this set against what the target was that ivipQ was going for. Having said that, I feel that the treble is very well executed on this set. No, it isn’t ultra brilliant or gleaming in resplendent treble luminosity. Yet the note control, cleanliness, detail retrieval, timing, cadence and a number of other key factors help the treble to (at the very least) “fit”, and “fit well”. Another nice job by ivipQ.
Technicalities
Soundstage
As far as the overall size of the Shanhai’s soundstage, I don’t feel it is some ultra cavernous and huge stage. Honestly, it’s about average in actual size. Not to mention that it’s a more intimate stage as well. The Shanhai’s midrange is a hair more forward than average which draws the stage a bit closer to the listener. So no, the stage isn’t some stadium sized venue in your head. However, I actually don’t feel that overall size is the only determination of what makes a soundstage “good”. Actually, the stage on the Shanhai is not congested sounding, isn’t too mishmashed together. In my opinion I hear very nice depth of field which makes way for a nicely layered sounding stage for the cost. Spacing is nice, and overall placement is also good, nice height and depth too which helps to bring on the psycho-acoustic perception of a well-done stage. Is it my perfect cup o’ tea? Probably not, but I have nothing to complain about here. It’s a nice stage, average in size but very nicely spaced out in all directions for the cost.
Separation / Imaging
Now, separation of elements within the imaginary stage within my mind when playing my library are generally pretty nice. For a richer sounding iem I find the overall note control and definition to be solid. Again, spacing is good enough too which helps to bring on the perception of decent separation of instruments and voices. There are some drawbacks like in heavily congested tracks with a lot of moving parts, complicated tracks, and bass heavy tracks. Those are the instances where the Shanhai is not going to sparse out the sound field perfectly. Nor should we expect it too. That said, for $66 it is very hard for me to speak in any negative light about this set. For a 3DD iem under $100 which can do everything that the Shanhai can do with no glaring problems is quite nice to hear. For the most part separation of instruments is pretty solid. Now, Imaging is quite good. Of course, the Shanhai falls victim to the same issues with congested or bass heavy tracks in this regard as well, but imaging overall is really nice. Add to that the layering ability of the Shanhai and what you end up with is a very nicely rendered stage.
Detail Retrieval
I feel like a broken record folks. Literally, the same issues that disrupts perfect separation & imaging are the same slight issues which affect its ability to illuminate some of the finer details. However, again I’d say that detail retrieval is very nice in the grand scheme of things. When you consider that the Shanhai is a warmer, richer sounding set yet I can still distinctly hear some fine details across the spectrum. I wouldn’t say the Shanhai is a technical beast or anything, but I do feel it does an average to slightly above average job at revealing some of the minutiae within my music. Alot depends on the track and to a slightly lesser degree your source as well.
Comparisons
Artti R1 ($65-$80)
I chose to compare another under $100 triple dynamic driver earphone against the Shanhai. It certainly seems like the natural set to put the Shanhai against. I reviewed the R1 (R1 Review) at some point last year and was instantly struck at how well done this set was from so many different points of view. Truly a price to performance bad boy. Again, the R1 is a 3DD iem consisting of two 6mm titanium dome and PU suspension edge DD’s along with one 8mm beryllium plated DD. I honestly never thought I’d hear a triple DD set of this quality level, but Artti really surprised me and coincidentally also probably influenced many other brands to try for a more demanding driver configuration. Let’s take a look at the differences.
Differences
First off, the R1 is made entirely out of aluminum and is very durable while the Shanhai is made entirely out of a resin material. Both built very well but I think you have to give the nod to the R1 in this regard. Maybe. Now, as far as the design, I personally feel the Shanhai is one of the more gorgeous iems under $100 and it certainly trumps the R1 in this respect. The Shanhai comes equipped with what I consider a better carrying case by a wide margin. However, the R1 clearly has the better cable. Also, the R1 comes with three extra sets of tips. So, the package itself sort of squashes between the two. Both sets are high value for dollar purchases. Also, both sets cost about the same, so this really is a 1 v 1 comparison.
Sound Differences
This should be a relatively quick sound comparison. I say that because both sets are really completely different in their respective tunings. The R1 is a leaner sounding and energetic set compared to the rich sounding and less intense Shanhai. The Shanhai has a warmer tonality and better body to notes. Most certainly the Shanhai carries a more bass enhanced frequency which adds to that nice warmth while the R1 comes across brighter and more open sounding. The R1 has a more crisp, transparent and airy sound. However, the organic, and more musical sound of the Shanhai barely loses out in overall detail retrieval. I find the stage of the Shanhai to have better layering, more holographic, better depth against the wider and more outwardly spacious sound of the R1.
Each 3rd of the mix
Now, the Shanhai comes across beefier in the bass region, deeper, more guttural, fuller, more impactful, while the R1 has a more energetic attack, faster and a quicker decay. The mids in the R1 are leaner, thinner, and drier than the rich, moist and forward Shanhai. Again, the Shanhai carries that musicality, which is much easier going, less shouty in the upper-mids too. The treble region of the R1 has more of a sharp bite, higher resolution, and it comes across as more of a filo us in its tuning. However, the Shanhai has a more laid back but better controlled treble region. It has less splash to a degree and better note body up top. I find the R1 is better technically in almost all facets of the sound. Better detail retrieval and better clarity for more pronounced imaging, better separation too. Also, the R1 has a wider, grander stage. Like I said, the Shanhai seems to have better actual depth of field which does lead way to some nice layering capabilities but the R1 is simply cleaner.
Final thoughts on this comparison
These comparisons always lack nuance. It may seem as though the R1 is the better set because it is the more technically adept iem. Basically, it won out everywhere. So, why would I choose the Shanhai every day of the week over the R1? Well, because the Shanhai has that more musicality driven sound, richer, better and more natural timbre, more rounded in note density, and simply comes across more mellifluous. Also, yes, the R1 beats the Shanhai in many areas technically, but honestly folks, the Shanhai is very good in all of those areas even in the midst of that warmer and richer sound. The R1 is simply tuned to illuminate the finer points within music. To be totally honest, I really enjoy both sets for two entirely different reasons. Some days the R1 is exactly what I want and other days (more so of late) the Shanhai perfectly fits my preferences. Both sets are much better than their cost would indicate, and both are bona-fide STUDS under $75. What would you choose?
Is it worth the asking price?
This is always the toughest question to answer for me. Well, not for me, it’s tough to answer for you. Personally, I feel the Shanhai is an easy no brainer because it does so much very well. Very clean approach for a lush sounding set. Yet, you may not like this style of tuning at all. You may feel it’s muddy, too intimate of a stage, too little treble influence on the sound, and too much bass output. Ya know what, you wouldn’t be wrong. Of course, nobody is ever wrong in this hobby. What I’m doing is simply trying to help you find the set which works for you. Plus, writing these reviews is completely gratifying and a perfect outlet for me. At any rate, I digress, the Shanhai is locked within a very competitive price point against some of the best the under $100 market has to offer. There’s too many to name right now but trust me, there’s a boat load. That all said, without a doubt in my mind the Shanhai is worth every penny.
The Why…
Because the Shanhai is nicely packaged for the cost, fantastic carrying case, decent enough cable too. The build on the Shanhai is wonderfully ergonomic with its all-resin shells and smooth body. Oh, and those face plates! None two are the same, absolutely gorgeous. Put this set up to the light and you’ll see, it’s one of the better looking iems in any price bracket. Truly a great design. However, the Shanhai earns its flowers because it is a highly musical and completely immersive sounding iem for the cost. You have three dynamic drivers working in tandem across the frequency to bring you a very rich and very full sound. In fact, fullness is one of the Shanhai’s best attributes. It has a very organic sound which comes across much cleaner than it should. Decently detailed, decent separation, solid imaging, and nice layering. Beyond that the stage has very nice spatiality in the way the stage is rendered. Nice depth too. The bass hits deep, hard, impactful, and tight for its size. The midrange is forward, lush, and never gets too shouty, no sibilance, and very harmonious. The treble is easy going, decent extension, great timbre, decent enough bite, and has just enough brilliance too. Folks, I couldn’t possibly walk out of those review without declaring wholeheartedly that the Shanhai is worth every penny.
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 IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai ratings below, that would be $50-$99 iems of 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. $50-$99 sets of any driver configuration is a large sized scope of iems. So, It should be noteworthy 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: 9.0 Well built, 3D printed, clean build
–Look: 9.8 Very unique and beautiful design.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.1 Fit and comfort is very good for me.
–Accessories: 8.5 One of the best carrying case, nice cable.
–Overall: 9.1🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.3 Great timbre.
–Bass: 9.2 Deep, palpable, textured and impactful.
–Midrange: 9.5 Highly musical.
–Treble: 8.8 Non-Offensive, sparkly enough too.
–Technicalities: 8.1 Very nice for the tuning.
–Musicality: 9.8 Musicality is its lifeblood.
–Overall: 9.1🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
Honestly, I don’t feel there is much to explain here as the Shanhai is what it is. Great bass, wonderfully musical midrange and a treble which plays its part very well. You don’t have the best technical game in town, but the Shanhai may surprise you from time to time. The “Overall Sound” score is a lofty 9.1 against any and all iems between the cost of $50 and $99. This may or may not be a fair lot of iems. I mean, the Shanhai only costs $66 US and so many sets which cost almost $30 more are thrown into the lot of iems that it battles against. So, seeing an average score of a “9.1” is pretty great. To be honest, I went up to $99 because I honestly feel the Shanhai can compete. Maybe not for its technical prowess, but certainly for its overall musically driven tuning. I actually had a mountain of sets laid out before me to conduct this little rating period and the Shanhai did well in many areas. There was no rating that the Shanhai got my highest score but that’s to be expected. However, it did well almost across the board. Furthermore, I don’t like ratings at all as they don’t explain the set at all. Yes, other iems are better in certain individual areas, but not many put it all together exactly like the Shanhai. Though it’s tough when comparing against the lies of the Simgot EA500LM, Shanling Tino, Truthear Hexa, Fiio JD7 and many, many, more. That all said, I urge you to skip these ratings as they are only one man’s opinion, over a short period of time, and are they’re hardly a good reference if you are trying to decide what to purchase.
Explain Yourself!!
So, there’s a few ratings which may get some arguments or eye rolls. First, the bass rating of a “9.2”. Honestly, the Shanhai really does perform well. Granted, there were four or five sets which were better defined while still coming across just as meaty. However, “9.2” is appropriate in my opinion. That means the bass is very good. Also, the midrange rating of a very high “9.5” is another rating which could go either way depending on what you personally enjoy. You may not enjoy a thicker and richer set with awesome musical abilities. You may enjoy a snappier, more transparent, and higher resolution iem. Again, I wouldn’t argue with you. I simply like that lush sound at the moment and that’s where the Shanhai ended up (9.5). The rest of the ratings speak for themselves, and I don’t feel they need a ton of explanation. Remember, these are my personal “tested” ratings. My opinion folks. Please do not base any buying decision off of them as there’s way more that goes into finding the set perfect for you than any rating system… from anyone.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review and feature of the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai I really do have to thank each and every one of you for clicking the link and taking your busy time to read my words. Or the words of any of my partners at Mobileaudiophile.com. It means everything to us that you visit our site. We contend against so many other great review websites and we are really trying to improve our reach. Granted, mobileaudiophile.com is doing wonderful but that doesn’t mean that we are content. We desperately try to get each review right for you. We try to explain exactly what we see and hear in a way that is palatable for the reader. I truly hope this review and every review that comes from our website is a help to you. Thank you so much for taking your time.
Other perspectives
Also, please check out other thoughts and perspectives on the IvipQ IQ-14 Shanhai. Please don’t read this review and hit the “Buy-Now” button. Don’t do that. Folks, we are all so very different and unique. Every hobbyist and every reviewer. Some may have more insight than me and some may have a totally different opinion than me. It’s just the truth and rather than try to come across as though I know it all, I’d much rather be honest and try to help you out. Even poj t you in the right direction. So, please take some time to read watch, or listen to other reviews of the Shanhai before buying. We want you to get your purchase right so at you can have those wonderful moments with your music. That’s what it’s all about after all. With that said, I think I’m done. Please take good care of yourself and your family, stay as safe as possible, and always… God Bless!