Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant Review 

Intro 

Hello, this review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Juzear named the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant ($99). The Defiant is actually a collaboration effort between Juzear Audio and a fairly well-known YouTube personality and audio reviewer/enthusiast named Zeos who operates the YouTube channel Z-Reviews. Once again Juzear pulls out all the stops and completely bypasses design aesthetic standards at this price as they crafted one of the most beautiful iems in the Defiant. At any rate, the beautiful Defiant is a four-driver hybrid in-ear monitor consisting of one dynamic driver and three balanced armature drivers. I cannot wait to actually listen “critically” to see what this set is made of. What’s the tuning, who’s it targeted for, and is the Defiant a worthy set against the other under $100 monsters? All great questions, we shall see my audio pals. 

Juzear 

Friends, let me start by saying that Juzear is a brand who has yet to miss. They came right out of the gate with success after success beginning with their highly successful Juzear 41T (Pavan’s 41T Review). The 41T came out of the gate with very little acknowledgement. However, like a brush fire, once that spark turned to fire it took over. The 41T was met with happy ears and a hobby-wide thumbs-up. After the 41T came the Juzear Flame which is basically the 41T in a new and more dolled up aesthetic, better cable too. After the Flame came the budget oriented Juzear Clear which once again took over the budget scene leaving happy reviewers hyping its existence. Next was the Juzear Butterfly 61T (61T Butterfly Review). Let me tell you all right now folks, I have a hard time not saying that the 61T is at least top three hybrid sets under $250. It is a very special iem and one which mixes fun, organic timbre, and a nice technical display to form a BALLER of an iem. I still love that set. Then there was the Juzear Dragonfly 81T. Once again Juzear absolutely nails it’s tuning, this time going with a more technically proficient sound, better balanced, and slightly more refined. Which brings us to the brand new Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant. I like that Juzear decided to enter into a collaboration as it usually means that a different approach will be adopted in the creation effort. Now, we haven’t seen a Z-Reviews collaboration in some time and so it’ll be Interesting to see where they went with this set. 

Competition 

Okay, so the Defiant just got to me and I can already tell (pre-burn in) that it is a nicely tuned iem with an exquisite aesthetic. So, off to the burn-in station the Defiant goes. That’ll be at least four days. However, I can already tell that Juzear just crafted a top-five hybrid under $100. That said, as with any set, trying to make it within the under $100 saturated market is much easier said than done. I could give you a litany of examples which never panned out. On the flipside, I can also give you plenty of examples of sets which absolutely hit it out of the park too. The $100 mark is the absolute ceiling for so many hobbyists’ spending abilities, and many brands know this. So, trying to make a highly successful iem under $100 is like trying to squeeze a round peg through a square hole. Basically, it’s hard. So, no doubt about it, the greatest struggle for the Defiant is very likely those other sets which it competes against. Don’t get me wrong, at this point I’ve had a good 30-45 minutes of listening and the Defiant sounds great, looks unbelievable, and comes with a good unboxing. Thus far I’d say at $99 the Defiant is a very good buy. However, I’ve said that countless times in the beginning moments with iems and audio devices. Let’s check out what changes as I spend the next two weeks with the Defiant. So, without further ado… the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–HiFiGo

Defiant Pros

-Well made using 3D printed resin 

-One of the best design/aesthetic iem under $200

-Ergonomic and fairly comfortable 

-Nice unboxing for the cost

-Great modular cable for the price 

-Smooth signature, nice dynamic balance, nicely tuned for $99

-Nicely rich notes with a clean sound field, natural transients 

-Really just a pleasant sounding iem across the board

-Beefy low-end with satisfying rumble

-Velvet style midrange, barely recessed, good presence for vocalists

-Non-fatiguing treble region with just enough sparkles

-Imaging is nice

Defiant Cons

-The highs could use a hair more brilliance 

-Detail Retrieval as well as instrument separation is about average

-I’d consider this a safe tuning which some may not enjoy (is this a con? EH) 

-Analytical lovers and treble heads will not be impressed

-Micro-dynamics are less obvious

Gear used for testing 

–Shanling UP6

–Shanling UA6

–Ifi Go Blu 

–EPZ TP50 

–Shanling H0

–Fiio Q15 

–Fiio JM21 

–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra 

-Plus many more… 

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing 

The unboxing experience with the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant is nice. The Defiant comes in a decent sized rectangular box inside of an outer sleeve. The sleeve is black with a colorful picture of the Defiant on the front as well as some specs, and a nice frequency graph on the backside. Slide the main box out of the sleeve and you’ll see an all-black box. Take the top off and you’ll reveal a protective almost transparent white paper. Under that you’ll finally see the beautiful Defiant iems with the cable attached sitting within foam cut-outs. Right next to the Defiant you’ll see the carrying case looking all dapper. Inside the case are the many eartips and modular cable adapters. Under the case you’ll find some paperwork (manual, warranty card) as well as a “Z-Reviews” plastic stand. I found the unboxing to be nice with some very solid inclusions. Nice one Juzear. 

Eartips

Juzear provides seven pairs of eartips in total with three different styles of eartips to help dial in the sound and fit of the Defiant. The first set of three (S, M, L) are light gray silicone tips with a firm flange, fairly long and deeper fitting with a rigid stem and a narrow bore. The problem with these tips is that they simply aren’t large enough. I didn’t get a measurement, but the width of the flange for the large size resembles the size of an ordinary medium size. I suppose for a very deep fit these would be nice. Nice tips, but not for me. The second style of tips are three pairs (S, M, L) of white silicone tips with a wide-bore and have more of a shallow fit. I found these tips have a hair too flimsy of an outer flange. Not bad at all, but they took too much fiddling for me to get a seal. Lastly, Juzear provides one pair of medium sized white foam tips. This pair is of good quality I’d say. However, I don’t generally enjoy foam tips. They may be great for you. I actually went through a huge number of different style eartips and the set that I landed on which gave me the best seal as well as the best sound were the Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore tips. Many different tips worked great. Like, the Dunu S&S tips, or the KBear 07‘s, and even the Tennmak Whirlwind wide bores were nice too. I just found that the upper mids were more energetic and cleaner with the Divinus. All in all, it’s a nice package of tips. I’d go through them all if I were you to see if they fit nicely because they aren’t bad quality of tips. 

Carrying Case 

Juzear also added a nice looking case into the packaging. To be exact, the carrying case is a light brown zipper case cladded in what I assume is faux leather. Very nice looking and of decent enough size. I’d say that you’d have zero issues fitting the Defiant earphones with the cable attached, some extra tips and modular connectors as well as a small dongle dac. Maybe something like the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro or the EPZ TP35. Something small would likely fit. Again, the case is a decent size which will carry your precious Defiant earphones, protect them too, but also won’t look ridiculous in your front pocket. It’s a nice inclusion. Oh, and the zipper actually works, so there’s that. 

Cable

One of the better finds during the unboxing experience was most certainly the pretty cable that you’ll. Find attached to the Defiant out of the box. In the promotional material at HiFiGo it is stated that the cable provided is actually Juzear’s own “Juzear Flare” cable. The Flare can be purchased separately and I definitely plan on doing so as it is a very nice budget cable which can be had for right around $39. At any rate, the Flare is a very nice feeling cable with an almost rainbow color scheme which perfectly aligns with the rainbow colored design of the Defiant (of course the Defiant comes in two colorways). To be exact, it’s a 2-pin cable made of 6N SPOCC + SCCW which basically refers to the Ohno continuous cast process. You could also say it’s a single-crystal-copper & single-crystal-copper hybrid cable which is 22 awg thick carrying a 4-strand, dual core, double helix braid, amounting to 280 strands altogether. The double helical braid is said to offer a cleaner presentation and sound transmission. Again, the Flare is a modular cable which comes with 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced ports. Very easy to install and uninstall as well. Just line up the plugs and push them on. I love that the connection feels very sturdy. Now, all of the fittings are made of what appears to be aluminum and each of the plugs are made of 4um gold plating which resists any oxidation ensuring a lossless signal. The cable is very pliable, feels great in hand and resists any microphonics as well. Honestly, I’m impressed, it looks great, sounds great, and it’s very well made. I love that I don’t have to cable swap with this set. I’m definitely getting a few more for my collection. 

Build / Design / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

The actual build quality of the brand new Juzear Defiant is nice for the cost. Granted, it is like any other all-resin iem except that the Defiant does have a slightly more robust feel to the resin material than some other sets at this cost. In truth, we’ve seen that the vast majority of iems between the cost of $35 and $1,000 are made by way of 3D printing. No longer is it some novelty thing anymore to have an all-resin iem, especially when anyone with a 3D printer can essentially craft and create something at least similar to any other set made in this way. I think the difference between the good, the average, and the bad all-resin builds comes with the finished product. How dense is the plastic, how seamless are the joints, how hefty, how smooth, and how clean is the end result. In all honesty, there’s no way to really quantify a good resin build. That said, the Defiant simply feels well made. I realize that is a very ridiculous thing to say, but to me it’s true. There’s a weight to them, a density, a certain finished product gleam which only an experienced technician can complete. 

Build cont… 

So, the build is actually really nice. The Defiant takes on the basic universal shape of an iem, medium in size, very polished looking, and no obvious flaws anywhere… trust me I looked. The nozzles are roughly about medium in length (what’s medium Chris?) with a nozzle width of about 6mm. So, standard size. I do like that the nozzles are made of a silver alloy, likely aluminum. However, it strikes a nice polarity with the faceplates, looks classy, plus it’s a solid build with a nice lip at the end of the nozzle to hold your eartips on better. Now, Juzear states that in the process of 3D printing they made sure to add in a physical crossover as well as a slightly dampened tube structure. They call it a “sound guide acoustic tube structure”. Special damping is added to each individual tube to get the precise sound that they were targeting. I see one backside vent near the 2-pin connector which has the micro-porous damper on it. At least I believe that’s what they used there. Also, the Shells are so wonderfully ergonomic. Just a very nice build all the way around. 

Design

It’s all about aesthetic folks. Juzear has (in my opinion) done a masterful job with their earphones’ designs ever since their first iem to hit the market. Each one is carefully crafted, artistically imagined, very intricate and always leaves me impressed. I really mean it folks, literally every set that they’ve created has a slick design. Every one of them! Now, the Defiant is absolutely stunning. Actually, both design schemes of the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant are stunning. You can either choose the vibrant green color which is a beautiful deep lustrous green appropriately dubbed “Defiant Jade Green” which resembles bright marble. Truly gorgeous. Or you can get the multi-color set which Juzear named “Defiant Rainbow”. Once again appropriately named, as you see in my pictures. I happen to think it’s the better-looking set, but both are really nicely designed. It’s hard to tell exactly what is depicted on the faceplates but the base colors are multi-colored with trippy turquoises, light greens, purple hues, pinks, and many different shades of each all marbleized across the faceplates. However, Juzear in all of their artistic glory made the awesome decision to contrast the colorway with nickel-alloy ribbon designs in the corners of the faceplates as well as the name “Juzear” on one earphone and the Juzear logo on the other. The side with the name Juzear looks as though there’s a very defiant looking bird… or something. Again, hard to describe what’s depicted. However, the design is flat out dope. I love that the Shells themselves are a deep black which looks awesome with the multi-colored faceplate design. It honestly looks pretty darn awesome against the vibrant green as well. Come to think of it, I don’t know which color scheme I actually like better. They are both sick looking. 

Internals

As I said earlier, the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant is a 1DD and 3BA Hybrid iem. A breakdown of the drivers goes like this; Juzear opted for a 3rd generation 10mm carbon-composite diaphragm with a PU folded suspension with what Juzear states is a gold-plated PCB gaskets (pretty wild), along with what Juzear refers to as a “high-strength” housing (whatever that means). This driver is put into motion with neodymium magnets and a fairly large voice coil. Juzear also used three custom-developed (assuming in-house) balanced armature drivers covering the mids and highs. Beyond the drivers Juzear separated the frequency using not just the physical crossover but also a three-way electronic crossover. Now I have zero idea where the cut-off points are for each driver used. Nor do I have any idea what type of BA’s were used or how many covers what areas of the mids and highs. I wish there was more info and perhaps I will come across that info soon so that I can get some proof over what I’m hearing. To my ears (I could be wrong) it sounds like the DD covers the entirety of the lows as well as partially into the midrange. I assume one BA covers the rest of the mids. Side note: Juzear claims that the midrange BA has a special micro-perforation pressure relief. Now, I also assume that one BA covers the highs, and the last BA covers the upper treble. I can’t tell you this for sure; Juzear did a helluva job making a very cohesive sound with this set. Like I said earlier, Juzear opted to put damping material within the sound tubes to better help dial in the sound. They did a nice job folks, especially for $99. 

Fit / Comfort 

As I slightly alluded to earlier, the fit of the Defiant is quite awesome for me. Ya know what, if I’m being honest, I haven’t had a bad fit for my ears in quite some time. I feel like a broken record in these reviews. Every set I say fits me like a glove and as honest as I can be… it’s the truth. The Defiant isn’t any different. The fit is awesome, super comfy too. The Defiant is a light earphone and doesn’t offer any fatigue over time. No rough edges, nothing abrasive on the outer or inner ear. Also like I say in every review; I have zero idea how this set will fit you, but I’ll go out on a limb and declare that the Defiant should offer the same result as I’ve had with the great majority of hobbyists. 

Drivability / Pairings 

Output Power

The Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant is said to have an impedance of right around 32 ohms as well as a sensitivity of about 109dbs. What this translates to is that the Defiant is most certainly a very sensitive iem that absolutely can be played to solid dynamism and control with even weaker source devices. I used a multitude of weaker sources for testing which include an Old Samsung Android phone, my iPad, the Fiio UTWS5, UTWS3, KZ AN01, as well as three or four no name Amazon dongle dacs (Conexant dac chips) that I picked up specifically for this purpose. So yes, weak sources will be just fine. 

Give er’ some juice

Having said that, providing your listening session with a more powerful source will absolutely bring the Defiant to its best sound. I could truly tell the difference, especially in the bass as well as the clarity in the treble region. I don’t feel you need a megaton of power or anything. Perhaps a good dongle dac at the least with high gain enabled (if it has the option). For instance, the brand new Shanling UA6 on high gain is an awesome pairing which truly tightened up the entire spectrum using it paired with the Defiant. Without question my favorite two pairings were with the Shanling M6 Ultra, as well as the iBasso DX240. A very close second was the Fiio Q15. For my more portable dongles I’d say for sure the Shanling H0, Shanling UP6, EPZ TP50, and the Shanling UA6 were all just awesome with this set as they offer plenty of power to really open up the drivers without causing distortion or deterioration of the sound. Of course, these more powerful sources are also my most capable sources too. Something to consider. Better circuitry better implemented chips, better amp sections too. I suppose you’d think they would offer up better sound as well. So, whether the uptick in fidelity and good sound comes from the power increase or simply more talented devices is somewhat of a mystery. Perhaps it’s a little bit of both. One thing is for absolutely certain; more power helps. Just going from medium to high gain on the M6 Ultra I got a fairly clear bass upgrade. Don’t get me wrong, the Defiant sounds flat-out great even on weaker sources. It’s just, you do get an incremental boost with a touch more power. 

Source Pairing

This brings us to source pairing. So, the Defiant comes across warm/neutral with a healthy bass lift as well as a non-intense pinna rise, and a semi-brilliant treble approach with fairly nice extension into the upper treble. Nothing about the sound is overbearing or over-saturated, nothing is peaky or too intense either. The Defiant’s tonal qualities put it right smack-dab in the middle of that tonal sweet spot, in my opinion. What that means is that the Defiant should have a better chance of pairing with the most sources. It’s that nice middle ground. Whether you use a more analytical or a more musical source, usually each should pair nicely. Of course, that is not always true and you should obviously test out each of your sources. 

Pairings cont… 

Now, the Defiant definitely leans a hair warmer which would make one assume that a slightly brighter, analytical, or less warm source would make the most sense. However, in my findings that isn’t a given. Shoot, my favorite source pairings came from two fairly different source devices. Those were my warm/neutral M6 Ultra and my neutral iBasso DX240. So, what gives? Two different tonalities and both sound very nice. Again, the Defiant just makes that sweet spot for me. The warm/neutral middle ground. Also, I don’t feel the Defiant is very picky. In truth, I don’t feel I have any sources which sounded straight-up “bad”, except “maybe” my heavily warm colored sources. Actually “bad” is probably not the right word. More like “less good”. I’m talking about my much warmer Burr-Brown dac sources, or my older AKM sources. So, I guess I’d say that a flat-out warm source would probably be a slight issue for some folks as the Defiant does come across possibly a bit too bass heavy, even murky sounding. However, by-and-large the Defiant fits the tonal characteristics of most dac/amps put to market of late. 

What do you need? 

I’d say that whether you have a simple phone, a weak no-name dongle dac, Bluetooth dac/amp, dap, or a desktop source you’ll have a good chance of hearing a nice tonal pairing. Again, the Defiant does sound nice with most of my gear. That said, if you want the most out of the Defiant I’d try to spring for a nice dongle dac with some decent output power. It doesn’t have to cost $200. There are plenty of very capable dongle dacs under $50. Like, the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro (Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro Review), EPZ TP35 (EPZ TP35 Review),  EPZ TP20 Pro (EPZ TP20 Pro Review), Tanchjim Space, Moondrop Dawn 4.4, Moondrop Dawn Pro, Fiio KA2, iBasso DC03 Pro among about 10 others which have some very nice output as well as sound pretty nice too. Again, the Defiant is not a very picky set of earphones so I wouldn’t be too overly concerned about tonal pairings. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: I simply want to preface this section with a few things which may or may not be helpful to you. First, I gave the Defiant about three full days of burn-in using multiple tracks on a loop which involve white & pink noise as well as targeted tones and sweeps specifically made for the purpose of burn-in. Next, I used the Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore eartips for the entire review process. They fit me the best and I definitely got the best sound out of them. Also, I listen mainly to flac or better files which are stored on my devices. Lastly, the Android music player that I use mostly is UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as well as Hiby Player at times as well. 

How does it sound? 

To my ears the Juzear Defiant carries a very pleasing timbre, near natural, with just enough of a subtle warmth to add some weight to an otherwise neutral sound. Like I said earlier, warm/neutral, nicely balanced. I hear some nice toned-down energy which never veers into sharpness yet carries plenty of dynamics throughout the mix. In my opinion the Juzear Defiant is without question a musicality-first iem with a fun and melodic tuning and with just enough warmth to slightly color the sound bringing upon a semi-rich note body. I’d say that the Defiant’s bass region is probably the audible focus of this iem as well as the most emphasized region of the spectrum. However, I don’t think the Defiant is a strictly warm set at all. There’s definitely a certain balance and I don’t hear a veil to the sound. I certainly don’t hear anything overly murky from the Defiant. Just slightly overcast with a thin glaze of warmth, yet with a nice sprightly energy and better clarity then most “warmer” iems under $100. Juzear made sure to counter the low-end very well as I definitely hear a nice boost in the treble region too. Granted, it’s a wholly non-fatiguing treble section, a smooth treble region, and a nicely bodied treble region. Certainly not for treble heads or brilliance lovers, but it works very well and fits the overall tuning nicely. 

Sound cont… 

Now, if I were to call the Defiant anything I’d say that it has a slight V-shaped sound signature. Though I wouldn’t argue with anyone if they said U-shaped either as the midrange is not as recessed as a typical V-shaped iem. In fact, if anything the mids are more forward than not. At any rate, the sound is almost analog, at times atmospheric, it’s fairly rich with full-bodied notes and again, great timbre. Silky and milky with plenty of non-offensive energy and better macro-dynamics than I would have expected. There’s actually a nice dynamic balance with this set even with the lift in the bass region. To add to that, the Defiant is one of the more cohesive sounding hybrids anywhere near its price point. That’s for sure! The Defiant is very fun, melodic, and it won’t kill your ears in sharpness. 

Technical Stuff 

Technicalities are not the strong suit of the Defiant’s repertoire. Basically, I wouldn’t say that its detail retrieval is going to win any awards anytime soon, but in the same sentence I also don’t feel the Defiant necessarily lacks in this department either. That’s what you get when the sound carries those liquid & velvet style inflections. Notes can sound “somewhat” smoothed over. I did say “somewhat”. I’d say that resolution is actually quite nice on this set with some good and warm macro-dynamics while micro-dynamics aren’t quite as evident. Now, the Defiant does carry some crispness too, but it’s melodic fundamental tone pretty much defines what you’ll hear. I’ll cover this all in depth later but the Defiant is a wonderful version of average in its technical abilities. I undoubtedly feel it’s by design as I’m sure Juzear hit the target sound they were shooting for, and I’m all for it. So no, its technical prowess is not its strong suit, but it also shouldn’t disappoint. In all reality, the Defiant is all about frictionless rhythm and rhythmic fluidity. This set is all about smoothness, organic musicality, and it does so in a very convincing manner. Again, the cohesiveness is great. However, to keep that cohesive energy with the bass region Juzear couldn’t exactly overtly boost the treble. So, you won’t have any forced resolution and It doesn’t come with loads of air and openness. That said, the Defiant doesn’t need all of that. 

Condensed look between the 20’s

Guys and gals, the Defiant certainly has some shortcomings. As I said it won’t blow your mind with its fine-lined and intricate precision of every note across the spectrum. However, the Defiant will give you some big and fun lows, hard hitting, but never oversaturated. The Defiant can bang yet without tipping the scales of the overall balance. Again, never too much. For the cost this set is certainly a viable option folks. I say that because the mids are not drowned out, too recessed, boring or drab. They’re silky, and every note has decent presence in the mix without anything harsh. Plus, vocals are fantastic. Also, the treble always seems to keep its composure no matter the track I put on. The treble has just enough brilliance to uplift the frequency just enough, and it carries just enough energy to add some subtle sparkle, some sprightliness. I hear decent-to-good layering and some pretty nice depth of field too for a $99 hybrid set. As I said prior, the timbre is nice. It’s certainly colored as the low-end does influence the mix, but I don’t find this as a negative. What I hear is a natural coloration, it’s a benefit and not a con. You won’t hear any timbral oddities, no sibilance, nothing metallic, and nothing ear gouging. Really, the Defiant is simply a pleasant sounding iem which is also very fun too.

A baby Butterfly

The Defiant certainly has a Juzear type sound. Sorry, I should’ve said it has a very Juzear Butterfly 61T type sound. In fact, these two sets are extremely similar tonality-wise. Very close to the Butterfly 61T. In my opinion the 61T is easily the best set that Juzear has made. Yes that includes the 81T. It stands to reason that Juzear would try to mimic the great success that they had with the 61T in the Defiant. A baby Butterfly, if you will. Seriously though, it’s no wonder I love the sound of this set so much.

Bass Region 

Let’s just erase all preconceived notions right away, the Defiant does not have a basshead style emphasis. The lows on the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant are definitely the most elevated range on this set and will certainly give you some beefy bass lines, hefty drums, and gritty bass guitars too. But it’s not basshead. It is… very satisfying, very fun, but also well delineated, appropriately measured, and at least partially balanced with the mids and highs. Let’s put it this way, there was never a moment that I felt the bass region was too overpowering, overwhelming, or too imposing on the rest of the mix. The bass is a tasteful version of fun. Juzear did a nice job of tuning the Defiant’s low-end with all the weight, texture, and bullishness you’d need, yet without the muddiness (some tracks will make me a liar). Now, while the Defiant’s bass is obviously not the fastest on planet earth (due to the emphasis), though… it also isn’t anywhere near laggy either. In fact, transient attack through sustain is fairly nimble with a clean note outline and a rigid note body. Again, it can make its way around faster bass tracks fairly well. I’d also say it’s relatively clean in respect to its emphasis. Especially for a set costing under $100. 

Bass cont…

Having said that, the Defiant’s bass region does lean atmospheric, there’s some lingering resonance, some haptic recognition too, so fans of an ultra-snappy and quicker low-ends should take note as the Defiant’s low-end won’t resemble an ultra-snappy style. Basically, the Defiant has a beefy dynamic driver bass. It booms, and it’s robust, but it isn’t really muddy in the process, and it isn’t overtly “one-noted” either. In truth, I happen to enjoy the clean definition of each bass note along with the rounded, nicely textured, and full-bodied boom. The Defiant has a very physical bass with enough dexterity and agility to remain ‘at least’ somewhat taut, and not a mess of blurred bass resonance and smeared warmth. It’s big, but tight enough not to smear the region. Tight enough to handle “Muse” by Hysteria, for instance. However, I will repeat this again, this is not some lightly emphasized, ultra quick, fast-twitch, quick-recovery, or ultra-speedy bass region. This isn’t some quick reflex BA or Planar style bass. It’s a lifted DD bass which can handle complicated bass passages, and it does so with a robust feel and a natural decay. Again, a tasteful version of fun. 

Sub-Bass 

The sublevels of the low end have plenty of bulbous gravity and bullishness if the right track comes on. A song like “Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” by The Decemberists is one such track. I’m sure the artists’ intent is met with this set as the bassline which begins this song is flat-out guttural. You feel every reverberant drone, but at the same time the notes stay fairly concise. This type of droning bass is surely the foundation of this track and the Defiant easily reciprocates with a foundational playback. I should’ve prefaced this section with something though. That is, I don’t feel that the sub-bass is overly boosted, and rarely does it have an audible influence over the spectrum unless a track specifically calls for it. I suppose all you need to know is that for $99 the Defiant’s sub-bass is most certainly the kind you can feel. It has that haptic recognition, that tangible texture. So basically the Defiant’s sub-bass does its job and even sounds refined in the process. However, it does its job without creating a muddy environment within the mid-bass as well. The two ranges work well together and are nicely delineated. So, if you enjoy those guttural, thrumming, and gritty feels on your favorite bass guitar lick then you’ll probably enjoy the Defiant’s ability to produce them. 

Mid-Bass 

Now, the mid-bass has some nice and clean oomph. It’s the type of mid-bass which has some good and audible boom to it. Having said that, it’s not a super wide and muddy style boom. I’d almost say it’s pretty concise considering the emphasis. You have to understand that while the Defiant certainly has a boosted low-end, it’s definitely not over-infused to the point that problems arise with cleanliness. In fact, it has only a couple dB lift above the greatest lift in the upper-mid to lower treble region. So, it isn’t some suffocating veil-fest. Also, the mid-bass does have a very slight bleed into the midrange which in my opinion only serves as a benefit. However, back to the boom. The Defiant’s mid-bass hits pretty hard folks. Again, not to a basshead’s liking, but boosted enough that it’s very satisfying. Boosted enough to bring fullness to bass guitars, enough to add a good hard & clean thud to kick drums and better than I would have expected for double bass. “Kids With Guns” by the Gorillaz is a track which will show you a lot right away. The bass has depth to it, it has texture, and even some crispness too. Another track is “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin. I love the bass guitar on this track with the Defiant. You’ll hear those short lived but very full, very assertive, firm, and robustly rounded bass guitar notes. You’ll hear clean note outlines and good density as the melody plays along unphased by the beefy bassline. Honestly folks, it’s a firm, well textured, and gratifying mid-bass. It’s not slow, it’s not overly muddy, it doesn’t ever feel overly congested or one-noted and for what it is the Defiant’s mid-bass has better definition then I would have thought for the cost. Not bad at all. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

The biggest gripe that some will have is the most obvious gripe. That gripe revolves around the warmth and weight created from the bass region. Like I said, this is a fun set, a warm set, and it’s mostly bass focused. So, you are going to have to enjoy a bass region which can bang (so to speak). Many people don’t enjoy that. There are times that I don’t want that. Also, the bass is not the picture of definition. No doubt about it there are bass replays for less which are even more peppy and cleaner then the Defiant’s. I said earlier that the Defiant isn’t ever really one-noted, but there are definitely tracks which will go against that. Also, there are many hobbyists who don’t want any bass bleed into their mids. If that’s you then you may not totally enjoy the Defiant. Granted, it isn’t a ton of warmth spilled over, but it’s there. It’d be good to keep that in mind. So, it isn’t perfect. It isn’t some detailed and lightning fast bass which can take on any bassline without fear of mudding up the mix. We should all understand this. Beyond those slight issues, I find the bass on the Defiant to be pretty well behaved, mostly unsullied, and with very nice texture. Also, it’s a fun bass. It’ll hit pretty hard with some nice control over the region. 

Midrange 

The midrange on the Juzear Defiant is one which is highly musical, certainly engaging, and in my opinion the Defiant has a very charming timbre. It comes across as almost earthy, analog-ish, with a clean version of a subtle warmth and has what I consider as a slightly colored depiction of a natural sounding timbre. What comes with that is some richness (semi-rich) to its notes, as though every note has a transparent viscosity to it. Really, it’s just a smooth-natural sound. And that smoothness runs across the board. The type of smooth midrange that’s great at drawing out the emotion from my music. So, you’ll definitely hear some subtle warmth across the mids. Not warm like you may think either. It’s like I’ve said… it’s subtle. However, the Defiant also has the ability to add a little crispness when a track calls for it as well. Overall, a very pleasant sound for a $99 hybrid. 

Mids cont… 

You have to enjoy this type of tuning though. For instance, the Defiant’s midrange is not some analytical and ultra resolving midrange with lightning-fast transients and chasmic space between instruments. The Defiant isn’t going to mesmerize you with its ability to focus on the subtleties or those tiny little micro-dynamic fluctuations. Granted, it holds its own in that way, but that’s not what this set was tuned to be. The Defiant’s midrange is moist, it’s very fluent, well cadenced and tuneful. It’s not dry, it’s not bright, and attack through sustain happens naturally. Most importantly, for a slightly warm midrange it’s not veiled or murky at all. Notes have some palpable texture and mass to them. They have some density, with a very fluid style of playback along with almost single-DD like cohesion of its four drivers. Nothing in this region is harsh, no sibilance and no sharpness to my ears either. I find the pinna rise to be very well adjusted with a nice and gradual glide upwards and a very well-done transition into the lower-treble. Vocals come across nicely weighted, earthy, good presence, and they don’t sound recessed to my ears. Overall, it’s a very nice sound. 

Lower-Midrange 

The lower-mids definitely borrow “some” warmth and weight from the bass region but it’s actually not to the point that I’d call the low-mids super rich. Perhaps semi-rich best explains them. There’s definitely some very nice note weight to most lower midrange notes. Yet I feel that there’s also plenty of low toned vibrance and energy too. I know I’ve said warm, warm, warm, but really there’s some added levity borrowed from the treble region along with the fact that the bass shelf flattens around 350-400hz. Like I said, just enough for a semi-rich sound. Which by the way is fantastic for male vocalists. Voices like Alex Warren in his track “Ordinary” is truly great at this cost as the Defiant makes his every vocal inflection come across unblemished, well contoured, velvet in tone, yet still authoritative when you couple in the firm and lean-lush note body with just enough dynamic energy. These aren’t recessed lower-mids as we are so used to hearing under $100. They aren’t boring either. I hear good clarity, cleanliness, and nothing overcast or blurry. Again, male voices have a definite “presence” against the rest of the mix. They’re forward just enough within the sound field. Really, males sound very nice for a hybrid V-shaped iem costing under $100. 

Upper-Midrange 

The upper mids actually come across a hair more forward to my ears. However, not so much that anything sounds off or not cohesive. The upper mids are really tuned to perfectly walk alongside the lower half. Truly a nicely cohesive sound (yes, I realize I’ve said that a lot). Females come across like a clean version of plush, they’re silken, with an almost eurythmic flow. Also, the Defiant is tuned in such a way that it props-up female voices… without offering the harshness. Listening to Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive singing “Twenty-Five” pushes her voice outward, towards the listener in this consonant and dulcet manner. I don’t want this to get out of hand though as there’s certainly other sets around this cost which can do the same and are tuned similarly. However, the Defiant has a uniquely eloquent way of presenting females and even higher pitched males. Like Yoke Lore in their track “Beige”. The Defiant nails his voice people! Flat-out nails it! It’s not just his voice though, the surrounding instruments never feel congested and they’re extremely tuneful. Oddly enough they don’t sound super airy either. Just clean and smooth. Sia sings “I Forgive You” and I’m so used to hearing the edges of her vocal notes sound almost metallic, abrasive or almost too edgy. The Defiant doesn’t do that, it stays controlled, glass-lined, not fuzzy, and smooth at the crest of most of her vocal notes. Females are usually very well done.

Downsides to the Midrange 

It’s not easy to sit here and list the downsides of a set with such a musically rich midrange which doesn’t really do anything blatantly bad. Especially for such a low-cost hybrid. Basically, it does so much right that listing its wrongs at this cost feels petty. I mean, you people already probably know if you’d like this set. Anyways, as far as the issues; It’s little things like detail retrieval which won’t blow your mind. Like I said, I feel the Defiant is right around average. Or, the Defiant’s instrument separation probably won’t amaze anyone, I wouldn’t think. You have this semi-airy sound field, a semi-rich note weight, instruments are a hair pushed together, not as delineated and cleanly separated. However, in Juzear’s defense, they didn’t tune this set to be some ultra refined detail-oriented and analytical set with some cavernous stage and loads of air. Again, there’s nothing dry or thin here. Juzear created an engaging sound, emotionally charged, and they created a sound which is gratifyingly melodic. 

Downsides cont… 

Also, I will say that some instrumentation may not have all the spiciness that you may be wanting. I wouldn’t say that the Defiant can sound blunted, but I would definitely say that some notes can sound less intense or less dynamic in certain situations. Any instrument requiring some bass presence to give them weight will be great, but there is a slight lack of pointed snap at times. I said “slight”. Or some instruments require a hair more edginess to sound authentic and I could definitely say that the Defiant may not perfectly hit the mark there, at times. So, take the good with the bad I suppose. Having said that, the naturality of the timbre, the forwardness of this range, the presence, and the musical nature of this set along with the nice clarity helps a lot to create a great sounding midrange for $99. It’s ridiculously cohesive. Again, it sounds like a single dynamic driver earphone folks. It’s one of those midranges which lets me close my eyes and simply listen. I’m not paying attention to every last intonation or every tiny detail. It’s musical, timbre is nice, and overall… the Defiant is pleasant. 

Treble Region 

As I’ve already alluded to, the treble region is not one which is going to be a treble heads paradise. Simply put, the treble is not ultra brilliant or sheened in luster. That’s good because if it was then the Defiant would be totally “un-cohesive”. I feel that Juzear did the right thing here. They tuned the Defiant’s treble to have just enough lift and then a very slight glide down through the mid-treble followed by a nice presence lift in the upper treble around 13k. I’m telling you all, it’s a smartly tuned iem and the treble simply works. Folks, the sound overall is not even close to harsh, it’s easy, it has warmth, it’s rich, it’s like I said earlier…the sound is pleasant. The treble follows that path perfectly without sounding boring or drab. In fact, it’s because of the treble that the pleasant overall tuning is what it is. It’s a very well-done tuning which was meticulously refined by a group of intelligent tuners. So, the treble isn’t one which will provide loads of tinsley crispness and treble bite. It isn’t even the most detailed treble and certainly not the most brilliant. Instead, the treble region stakes its claim on being melodious, flowing cohesively with the midrange and bass regions coming across very fluidly. Now, there is some bite, there is some treble punch too, but it simply won’t be to the styling of a pure treble lover. Let’s put it this way, there’s enough lift in the treble region to add some much-needed levity across the mix as well as provide some snap to stuff like midrange percussion. It’s very well measured. 

Extension 

Extension is also nice as there is plenty of perceived info past 10k as Juzear did provide a nice little spike up top. It adds the perception of some air. Not a lot, but it’s there. Extended and lifted enough to add some dimension to the sound up top and the sound as a whole. Now, when talking about “perceived” info past 10k what I’m referring to is obviously the secondary harmonics of different instruments. Stuff like the harmonics of a cymbal strike, stringed instruments like violin, some acoustic guitar stuff, and even some brass instrumentation. Also, it’s not super easy to define what is and what is not around this range. I can tell you right now that cymbals decay in a reasonably natural fashion. At least what I would call “natural”. I suppose natural can be different for everyone. What I don’t hear is obvious splashiness, or any metallic treble tizziness. It doesn’t sound unauthentic to my ears. However, having this audible info does stretch the stage just a hair. Beyond that, 

Like a wave in the sea

Like I said, detail retrieval isn’t groundbreaking and likely won’t leave you panting trying to keep up with all those pesky details. Not on the Defiant. Not with its smooth and less pointed attack. The Defiant is more like a wave in the sea, curvy lines, smooth transitions and less like right angles, exact points, and precision. Now, from a macro perspective I feel the clarity is fantastic in the Defiant’s treble region (similar to the rest of the spectrum). Very clean sounding and nice resolution too. However, the fine-lined micro-details and micro-dynamic subtle volume shifts aren’t as contrasted or evident. Again, not that the Defiant lacks in this area either. I mean, the Defiant has some nice note body up top as well with a certain richness to the sound and so the Defiant’s treble isn’t as lean and analytically dry as some detail beasts come across. However, the treble details will certainly surprise you in some tracks. I do hear adequate levels of crispness providing “some” decent enough edge detail in the right tracks as well as some nice separation of instruments too. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I hear ample amounts of layering in the region, but I do detect some refined depth to the sound.

Measured

Having said that, most of the time the Defiant’s highs are going to come across very much inoffensive, never dark or rolled off, but also not gleaming with refulgent shine either. Like every area of the mix, it’s somewhere in between. The treble region is measured, it’s all rhythmic, and really the treble simply continues the cohesive wave of aqueous sound holding tight to that good timbre along the way. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is it darn good per the tuning and per the cost? You betcha. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

Probably the issue that’s the most “polarizing” (to some folks) is that the treble region doesn’t come across quite as brilliant as some would like. I personally would’ve liked to have seen a hair more presence region lift. Of course, I definitely enjoy the sound of this set and so it really isn’t an issue for me, but for some it’ll be a no-go. You don’t really have a ton of that “icing-on-the-cake” style treble shine and luster providing some electric energy or vibrance. No doubt it’s there, it just comes across in a toned-down and more palatable easy listening way. Again, wholly inoffensive and smooth throughout the treble region of the Defiant never breaks character and is tuned in perfect keeping with the rest of the mix. This will either be a great thing for you, or it will be the final nail in the coffin. Also, like I said earlier, the treble isn’t the most clean-cut and precise and you don’t have that hard bite or defined edge all the time. This too may be a problem for some depending on their listening preferences. Other than those issues I find the Defiant’s treble was tuned in a manner that is completely fitting and adding or taking away a few db’s here, and a few db’s there, may take away what makes the Defiant so utterly charming. Extension is nice, the smooth delivery is nice, I hear almost zero sibilance whatsoever, no grain, no sharpness, and I hear none of that annoying treble tizz. Nothing is smeared or congested up top. It’s well controlled and very cleanly portrayed. It’s just less emphasized than some may enjoy. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage

To me the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant’s soundstage is not some huge and vast expanse of sound. Overall, about average in height and width. You won’t hear openness for days. Having said that, I hear almost no congestion of the sound field either. Perhaps on really poorly recorded tracks or ultra complicated tracks. Other than those two scenarios the Defiant’s soundstage is well displayed. Again, average width I would say. Of course, nobody can quantify what “average” is. Really its my humble interpretation of what average is. As far as height of stage I’d also say about average. Nothing which will blow your mind. However, the area which helps the most and is in my mind the most important aspect of any stage is the Defiant’s perceived depth of stage. It’s all about the depth folks. That’s what give the Defiant some dimensionality, some roundness of notes, some front to back layering. Now, I wouldn’t say that layering is amazing or anything, but in truth it’s better than I would have anticipated. Thankfully the stage isn’t some 2D flat plane of sound in front of me. The Defiant’s stage is nice folks. Again, It never sounds overly congested and the sound field keeps some nice clarity too. All in all, not bad at all. 

Separation / Imaging 

This brings us to separation of instrumentation as well as the Defiant’s ability to place those instruments within the sound field. Again, I would say average for sound separation. Friends, the Defiant is not an analytical and clinical style tuning. It’s as simple as that. Thankfully it’s not that. Also, you can only do so much with $99 out of a hybrid iem and I’m sure Juzear didn’t want it to sound tinny and incoherent with the rest of the mix. They had to relax the sound a bit. This propped the bass up even more along with less treble contrast, which means slightly warmer sounds, slightly richer sounds, less airy, and less perceived space between elements within the stage. However, the only time I ever found the Defiant to be anything other than great at separation of elements was in complicated and congested tracks, or in super bass heavy tracks. That’s it. Other than those times the Defiant proved to be a very clean version of warm/neutral with clean note outlines coming across fairly concise and with good clarity. Imaging is better. I can easily place objects on the stage, and they tend to be in their rightful places. Add to that the depth I was referring to earlier and what you get is a $99 set which provides some layering of sounds too. Of course it won’t be too level, but that should be expected. Definitely good for a musicality-first iem costing under $100.

Detail Retrieval 

Now, detail retrieval is at least somewhat confounding. I mean, in one aspect I hear some better than average details with nice fine-lined precision. However, the second you add in any extra sounds or complicate things at all, that good detail retrieval sounds a whole lot more like average. Go back and read everything concerning separation and it’ll help explain and define why the Defiant can sometimes seem less than stellar in detail retrieval. Details and separation usually walk the same line as they kind of go hand-in-hand with each other. Having said all of that, there are times I can hear every last little fluctuation of sound, every bit of minutia, every subtle noise. But those moments are usually in very “non” complicated songs. Again, I wouldn’t change a thing folks. Anything you change, anything you add or take away has a ripple effect which messes up what makes the Defiant what it is. So, in my opinion the Defiant has about average detail retrieval. What do I always say… “Average is good”. 

Comparisons 

QOA Mimosa   ($99)

What a special iem friends. I reviewed the QOA Mimosa (Mimosa Review) roughly around the beginning of this year and found it to be a true competitor in the under $100 price bracket. In fact, for warm/musical lovers it is probably one of the best. Here is a set which has that richness but also has that fine-lined detail retrieval as well as wonderful cohesion of its hybrid drivers. The Mimosa is actually a two-driver hybrid set which carries one DD and one micro-planar driver. That’s one 10mm DD and one 6mm planar and they converge very well sonically. I enjoyed that review process very much. No doubt the Mimosa created a nice buzz in the community, and it was very much praised for the quality of build, the design, and for its ability to playback tunes. Truly an excellent buy at $99 and a very nice mix of driver tech. 

Differences 

So, the Mimosa is definitely a much smaller iem, but both sets have an ergonomic build. To that, both sets are made using 3D printed resin and both sets have a structurally sound build. As far as design, I have to give this one to the Defiant. As nice as the Mimosa looks (it looks dope), the Defiant is simply stunning. Also, both sets have great unboxing experiences while the Juzear Flare cable is certainly better than the cable that QOA provides. Though the Mimosa’s cable is still nice for the price. But that Flare cable is simply better. At any rate, both sets come with a solid unboxing. So, both sets are fairly easy to drive, and I don’t feel one is easier than the other. However, both sets most certainly scale very well with power. 

Sound Differences 

Without a doubt the Mimosa has a slightly warmer signature with even more richness and thicker note weight. The Defiant has is much closer to neutral with more sprightly energy and a cleaner approach overall as well. I’d say the Mimosa and the Defiant are both slight V-shaped sets. The Mimosa is a set which is warm, is very lush in sound but it also has very nice detail retrieval due to the micro planar, but between the two sets the Defiant has the edge in details. Of the two the Defiant had an airier and more open feel to the sound which just opens the sound field up a bit more. I also feel that sound separation goes to the Defiant along with a deeper and better layered stage. This takes nothing away from what QOA was able to do with the Mimosa though, it is truly a fantastic set at the cost. 

Differences in each 3rd of the mix 

The Mimosa comes across with a much heftier and more bulbous mid-bass along with a deeper and denser rumble. Having said that, the Defiant’s bass has more of a pointed punch to it and it also sounds better defined to my ears with less of a masking effect in the rest of the frequency. Now, the midrange of both sets will give you two different takes in a warmer signature. The Mimosa’s low-end carries over quite a bit more into the midrange providing an almost syrupy note delivery while the Defiant is what I’d call “semi-rich” yet with better clarity, better resolution, and more precise note contours. I’d also say that the transient ability of the Defiant trumps the Mimosa. Both midranges are certainly a musical affair while the Defiant has a bit more vibrance and sparkle than the Mimosa. The treble region of the Defiant comes with a touch more brilliance, a pinch more energy, and comes across with an open feel to the Mimosa’s less airy and slightly less offensive treble. Having said that, neither set is what I’d call offensive. I will say, the Mimosa does have better extension up top with more sprightly energy towards the high-highs whereas the Defiant has a bit more of the elated sound and vibrance cast from the upper mids through lower treble. I do find the Mimosa to have a treble with a touch more bite, though it does thin out a bit more in this region whereas the Defiant’s treble has better note body. Again, overall details go to the Defiant as well as a hair better note separation. To be honest, most technicalities are a bit better on the Defiant. To a small degree, though that is most certainly debatable. 

Final thoughts on this comparison 

I feel that both iems have their pluses and minuses in comparison and really, it’ll come down to the ear of the beholder and what your preferences are. I find that both iems could certainly be considered “tops-in-class” type sets in respect to their particular tuning styles. Basically, both the Mimosa and the Defiant carry that musical type sound. Of course, they different a bit in how that musicality is carried out. One is a hair more rich, thicker and more bass heavy while the other has a touch more luminance with better note definition. However, both are great at drawing out the emotion in my music and both come with very nice timbre. 

Aful Explorer   ($119)

The Aful Explorer (Explorer Review) is one of those sets which seemed to come at the perfect time and the perfect price. I feel as though the Explorer was an absolute hit from the jump. Just what the hobby wanted. It was warm, extremely musically inclined and the Explorer has that perfect tonality. Really a perfect set to compare with the less expensive Defiant. Now, the Explorer is actually a three-driver hybrid iem consisting of one DD and two BA’s. It is no question that Aful Audio pioneers new design and tech to achieve some of the best sound for the money. The Explorer actually borrows tech from their P-series as well as their MagicOne single BA hit to bring upon some of the smoothest sound in its price point. They used special resonator tubing similar to the MagicOne as well as that RCL frequency division tech used in the P-series (Performer series) as well as a handful of other notable additions. Let’s see if we can find the differences. 

Differences 

To start, both sets are made by way of 3D printed resin and both are built very well. I do find the Explorer to seat better in my ears, but both are very ergonomic for me. I’d say the Defiant is a hair larger, but both sets are still medium in size and even small ears should have zero issues with fit. As far as design is concerned the Defiant is simply amazing. I love the artistic approach that Aful used with the Explorer, but the Defiant is on another level in my opinion. Both iems come with a nice unboxing and each set wins out for different reasons. Like, the Juzear Flare cable is a better addition but the eartips which comes with the Explorer are clearly better. Both have a nice carrying case and both have a fun unboxing experience for their respective prices. In my opinion the Explorer is a hair easier to drive and both sets most certainly scale well with added power. Now, I feel that the Defiant is a hair better for multiple genres but that is a total preference call. 

Sound Differences 

To begin, both iems veer warm and rich sounding. However, the Explorer is a tad warmer and has an even smoother playback. That said, the Defiant carries a crisper and has better clarity across the spectrum. It’s better detailed, better separation, and its macro-dynamics have more energy with slightly more apparent tonal contrast. Both sets have fantastic tonal cohesion across the mix. No winner there. Also, both iems have that organic, earthy, analog style timbre. I’d say that the Defiant carries a bit more levity which definitely helps with the tonal contrast I was talking about. 

Differences in each 3rd of the mix

So, the Explorer has a tad more weight to its bass, slightly deeper in pitch, but the Defiant has what I feel is the cleaner, better defined low-end. However, the Explorer does offer a more robust slam. Folks, the differences are so very small here. This took a long time to spot tonal differences. The midrange on the Explorer has less energy, less sprightliness but it’s also smoother and even less fatiguing (neither of these sets are fatiguing). The Defiant has better clarity, more crispness, more of a snap for percussion, slightly more vibrance too. Both sets are very harmonious, tuneful, and live off of their musicality in this region. The treble of the Defiant has more of an emphasis and better extension into the upper treble. Again, crisper, slightly more bite, a hair edgier. The Explorer has that ultra easy treble, almost rolled-off and so the Defiant has a touch more luster here. Again, the Defiant does the technical stuff with better precision. Really it just has more treble emphasis, more openness, which leads to better separation of sounds, slightly more obvious layering of those sounds, and better detail retrieval too. Both sound stages are of an average size, and both have some nice depth as well. Two really great sets for fans of a musical and emotionally charged sound. 

Final thoughts on this comparison 

This is a tough one folks. How could I ever choose between the two? Each set has such a pleasing sound in their own way. As the comparison suggests above, the Defiant simply comes across with better vibrance and has a bit better definition to each area of the mix. However, the Explorer has that very robust and ultra smooth sound with no possibility of sharpness or glare. Truly one of the best warm/musical sets money can buy under $200. I truly feel that the Defiant and the Explorer are the two best options for hybrids at their cost which are tuned in this way. Also, they are very similar folks. It takes a hot minute going back and forth to truly make concrete distinctions. I hate to say this, but I kind of feel like the Juzear Defiant is the better set for the cost. It’s less expensive and it most likely would suit more people. 

Is it worth the asking price? 

This is an easy thing to answer folks. Of course, the Defiant is worth the low cost of $99. Looking at the competition vying for your dollar I’d Say that the Defiant is a top 3 warm/musical iem under $100. Actually, I’d say it’s the best, but I don’t do that. I’ll leave that up to you. At any rate, there really isn’t a whole lot to complain about if you know what you are getting. Meaning, for the “style” and “type” of tuning the Defiant is flat out awesome at this price. Now, no question there are a few other Hybrid style sets which can most definitely seriously compete against the Defiant. I’m not dumb to the fact that there are a few handfuls of excellent sets, and about fifty which are very good. For quite some time the $50 to $100 price point has been the most hotly battled arena with which these brands fight for relevance. I have a good handful hybrid sets which I feel actually compete with the Defiant and even more with different driver configurations. So, no doubt about it there are other sets for you to consider. However, I really hope you take a good look at the Defiant if the sound signature seems as though it would work for you. That all said, the Defiant overshoots that $99 price tag. It could’ve and probably should’ve cost more. Juzear did a fine job across the board. Yes, this set is worth the cost. 

The Why… 

To begin, the Defiant is solid any way that you look at it. It’s a four-driver hybrid with a very nice 3D printed build, it’s ergonomically gifted and it is one of the best looking iems anywhere near its price point. I feel like I can say that. Seriously folks, go and find a better looking iem. Easily one of the more stunning iems… no matter the cost. Beyond that, the Defiant has a solid unboxing with a very solid wire in the Juzear Flare modular cable. It’s just a very good purchase. No extra cables need to be purchased, it’ll very likely fit you very well, and it’ll look slick in your ears no matter where you’re at.

That Sound…

course, the real reason that any of us buys any iem is for one reason. That is… the sound. The best part about the Defiant is definitely the sound. If you like a very melodic and musical set with a clean warmth which doesn’t carry any fatigue, doesn’t veil, doesn’t muddy up the mix yet sounds very fun in the process then the Defiant may just be the set you are looking for. The bass is big, bullish, textured and it can slam, but it’s also taut and well defined. Next, the mids are great for vocalists with its somewhat rich note body and very rhythmic sound. Timbre is organic, near natural, earthy, with just enough energy to not sound dull or boring. The Defiant really does a good job at displaying an emotional track. Last, the treble is completely non-offensive yet peppy enough to add some levity to the sound. I hear decent detail retrieval, a very nicely laid out stage, nice layering too. To be honest there really isn’t much to complain about folks. I could keep going but I think you get the idea. Yes, the Defiant is worth the $99 it takes to own it. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review of the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant, I have to thank the people of HiFiGo. I have always had a great relationship with them. The reason why I’ve had a great relationship is because they don’t ask anything of me which would make me question my integrity. They have never asked me to speak a certain way about the products in their store, and they’ve never once asked me to provide my review for them to proofread. Believe me, other brands have asked that and I dont review their products anymore. Really, Hifigo has always been great folks. I also have to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link which took you to this review. Myself and my partners at Mobileaudiophile.com truly thank you. Ya know, I say it in every review that if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be here. It’s because of you that mobileaudiophile.com is even still reviewing products. So, thank you so very much. Truly. 

Other Perspectives 

Now that you’ve read my thoughts and opinions on the Juzear X-Z Reviews Defiant, I really hope that you’d take some more time and read some other thoughts concerning the Defiant. Click other links, watch other videos, and take the time to take in other perspectives. I want you to get your purchase right folks. $99 is a ton of money for 98% of the known world. I realize that is in the budget category and isn’t expensive for an iem. However, that is a huge purchase for many people. So, making sure you know that you’ll enjoy a set (without hearing them before you buy them) usually means reading as many reviews as possible. It can only help. Well, with that I think I’m done with this one. I do hope you take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless?