Muse Hifi East 6
Intro
Hello friends, today I am reviewing one of Muse Hifi‘s latest iems, the Muse Hifi East 6. The East 6 is a single dynamic driver from this newer audio brand and rests nicely within the budget sector. I have actually been listening to this set for over a month now and one thing is for sure; when Muse Hifi wants to tune something really well… they can do just that. I want to thank Muse Hifi for providing the East 6 for a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. Pietro also reviewed the East 6 HERE. This is half the reason I waited as long as I had to publish my review. Better late than never I say. The other reason I took so long is because the fit caused me some grief, but I’ll get into that later. That said, the East 6 does a lot to impress and is definitely one to consider in its price point. Albeit there are some caveats which may be deal breakers to some folks. I’ll speak on those things coming up.
The East 6 does have a few things up its sleeve to stand out against the current crop of iems in the price point ($60-$75). The dynamic driver is a special one folks, it has tunable nozzles, and it is one of the coolest looking sets too. I don’t want to give anything away here though; I’d rather save that for the nuts n’ bolts of my review. So, without further ado, the Muse Hifi East 6…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing links
Disclaimer:
I received the Muse Hifi East 6 from Muse Hifi as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. Muse Hifi has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to Muse Hifi and thanks for reading.
East 6 Pros
-Build Quality is fantastic
-Extremely odd yet cool design (may be a con)
-Unboxing is better than most
-Nicely balanced neutral sound
-Tight and impactful bass response
-Melodic midrange, good note density
-Clean treble region
-Soundstage
-Imaging
East 6 Cons
-Fit can be very difficult
-Design (may be a pro for some)
-Red filter can get a bit hot
-Not for bassheads
Gear used for testing
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The box which arrived at my door is an average sized cardboard box with a totally cool looking design on the front that changes colors as you move it in the light. Very cool, something you don’t see every day. Once you open the box you are met with the completely unique East 6 iems sitting in cardboard cutouts. Under the East 6 is another box that houses the case and some of the accessories. You’ll find the cable and eight pairs of eartips included. Honestly, this is a nice unboxing. You get plenty of tips, a decent cable and a decent carrying case too.
Eartips
Muse Hifi decided to add in a total eight eartips within the packaging. You get two sets (M, L) of KBear 07 style white silicone tips with a black stem. They are pretty firm at the flanges which helps for a decent seal, and they have a semi-wide bore. The next type is another white silicone tip (S,M,L) with a slightly narrower bore, a bit longer and also pretty firm. The last type (S, M, L) is also white silicone eartip, but these have a shallower fit as a wide bore. All of the tips have a nice firm flange which is great to see. Nobody wants flimsy cheap tips. I think this is a huge benefit for the consumer as without question you will be able to use each set if these tips for… something. Now that I’ve said that I should also add that I absolutely NEEDED to find other tips. It has more to do with the actual fit in my ears. In my quest for the best sound, I needed to find the shallowest, most firm tips in my collection. I don’t know what kind they are or where they came from but they’re wide-bore, very shallow and very firm. Truth is, I could not get a perfect seal with any other tip. I think it’s just me and my ears, but the tips provided should give you plenty of options for the East 6.
Carrying case
The case included in the East 6’s box is a faux leather black zipper case with no identifying marks, no name, no logo, just a black case. Good thing it’s a decent one. Shoot, most sets in the price point won’t have such an inclusion so, not bad. Anyways the zipper actually works, and the case is large enough to fit your earphones and possibly a small dongle dac. Not much else. I usually never use carrying cases, but I actually did use this case. The reason is that it actually fit in my pocket and didn’t overly bulge my pants. Again, not bad.
Cable
Muse Hifi advertises that the 3.5 single ended cable which comes equipped with the East 6 is a sterling silver cable. They call it pure silver. I have zero reason not to believe that. To be exact the cable is a 0.78 2-pin 3.5 single ended silver cable. It’s very light and adds no extra weight, it’s pliable, and I don’t detect microphonics to any detrimental degree. I used the cable for any single ended usage from my sources. However, my sources also call for 4.4 balanced and for those occasions (which was most of the time) I used the 4.4 balanced cable that came with my Hidizs MP145. I thought it looked dope paired with the East 6 and also, the sound is fantastic together. In the end, if all you have is the included cable then that is perfect. It’s a nice addition to the packaging and works like a charm.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality & Design
Looking at the all-alloy metal build of the East 6 brings upon premium thoughts. The East 6 is really a well-built tank of an iem. Yet somehow, they aren’t super heavy either. Just right actually. The East 6 has one of the crazier looking shells as I’ve heard numerous times that they remind folks of the Mandalorian. Quite literally, in my Facebook 1st Impressions post there must’ve been three or four people who described it as such. Mandalorian, Star Wars, Spaceship. You get the idea. Anyways, I couldn’t possibly describe the exact shell shape to you, so I beg you to just look at my pictures. The look is flat out dope to my eyes, but I am positive this will not jive with everyone. It makes for a tough fit too (more on that later). However, this shell design also gives space for a dual cavity acoustic chamber. You’ll also notice a huge back vent for a semi-open design on the faceplates. There is also a small vent in the bottom cavity as well. All in all, the East 6 is built extremely well, and the look is one of the most unique and confident designs I’ve seen in quite some time.
Tuning nozzles
The East 6 also comes with two sets of tuning nozzles. I won’t go into a huge breakdown of how both sounds. I will say that the red nozzles are a pinch brighter, more open sounding, better detailed by a small margin and a bit crispier. Along with that crispness is a bit more shout too. The black nozzles are what I used, and they do help to tame some of the pinna rise as well as bring the treble down a touch. I certainly like this nozzle better. There is more of a balance with the black nozzle, less peaky, less upper-mids and treble glare. The red nozzle is more for treble lovers but is too much for me. At any rate, the nozzles are very easy to screw in and off and they’re relatively easy to get in your fingers without dropping them and losing them forever. I like the inclusion of tuning nozzles and welcome the fact that Muse Hifi is adding a way to dial in the sound to the consumers preferences.
Internals
Muse Hifi refers to their all-new dynamic driver used inside the East 6 as the “Tesla Earphone Unit”. The East 6 is in fact a single dynamic driver earphone with a 10mm DD with a dual-magnetic and dual-cavity design. In fact, muse states that they’ve been able to use both internal external magnets with a 2.0 tesla magnetic flux. This is huge. Obviously, this is a fantastic driver. You’ll notice once you hear it folks. They also use a Japanese imported copper covered aluminum voice coil for cleaner transmission. I hear no undue distortion of any kind with this set. Loud volumes, more power, it doesn’t matter folks, this driver can handle it.
Fit
Okay, now we make it to the biggest gripe of any. The worst aspect of the East 6. Oh, I wish this wasn’t so. Friends, the fit is tough to deal with. I just have to put it out there. The fit has given me… Fits. The angle of the nozzle is simply a bit weird which takes a lot of moving around, playing with the angle and most certainly forces you to find the right tips. I actually have to turn the East 6 forward a quarter turn and put them in my ear. Then I have to turn them back the other way. Almost like I’m locking them in. It’s very strange. Not the most comfortable either. I suppose I could say they aren’t horribly uncomfortable, but they do have an odd shape. There’s no getting around it. It’s the biggest issue of this entire earphone. If the fit was better than this set would be one of the best in the price point. Now, I am wearing them as I type this, and I have zero issues. It just takes a while for me to get to the point of comfort.
Drivability
The East 6 is a very sensitive iem friends. Muse states that the East 6 has an impedance of around 15 ohms and a sensitivity of 123 db’s. What does this mean? Well, it means you can listen to the East 6 with almost any source. I even used my iPad to listen and was happy. However, the cool thing is that the East 6 does scale to a degree with more juice. Not more volume…more output power. There is a cap to that though. You can’t go and give this set 20 watts of power or anything. Still, get a nice dongle dac and you are in business.
Source tonality
During my critical listening, I used a whole host of sources. I list about six of them that I primarily used, but I have many sources, and each took a turn. Out of all my sources, I have to say that the East 6 does seem to react a bit better with a warmer source. Having said that, I personally enjoy the East 6 with a warmer source. This is one set which will act as somewhat of a chameleon to source tonality. To a degree anyways. For instance, I love the East 6 with my Ifi Go Blu, it’s a slightly warmer source which thickens the mid-bass a bit, tames the upper mids too. Or the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus is also a great dongle dac for this set and you’ll get the same results. The pair which worked the best if anything (that I have in hand) is the Shanling M6 Ultra. That warmer, velvet style playback is perfectly contrasted against the warm/neutral sounding East 6. More analytically adept sources like my Moondrop Dawn 4.4 or iBasso DX240 will also come across a hint more analytical as well. A bit leaner, tighter transient, less atmospheric. I don’t necessarily think a warmer or colder source is better or worse because the East 6 reacts well to any of them. However, be mindful of your source. Again, the East 6 does react quite a bit.
More power-more good
Again, if you have a more potent source then you’ll hear a tightening of the bass region and better dynamic range as well. If you don’t have access to something a bit beefier then all you really need is a simple dongle dac at the least. Shoot, even a phone would probably suffice. However, the East 6 definitely does improve with power. I think it pays to have a more powerful source and you will definitely hear the difference. The drivers can take the power and do seem to come to life so to speak when you feed them a bit more. So, if you can get your hands on a nice source with good output it will really show off what this set can sound like. I am so very impressed.
Sound Impressions
Condensed sound analysis
Finally, we get to what we are all here for…the sound. The East 6 is a talented set folks. I’m not going to mince words. They sound fantastic for $69… without question they do. The East 6 has a more “neutral” to “warm/neutral” tonal coloration with a very nice balance across the mix. No one area stands out as the dominant frequency. Perhaps the upper-mids to lower treble have the most influence but I hear a very nice bass region and plenty of good, impactful, and very clean emphasis. I’m impressed! I hear a nicely lean-lush note weight throughout with a tenancy towards a crisper auditory display of those notes. There is some smoothness, but I do hear that precise crispness most of the time. If I were to call the East 6 anything, I’d say it’s a balanced W-shaped sound signature.
Condensed sound between the 20’s
This section is to give you an idea of each 3rd of the mix, but a smaller and tidier version of the lengthier review after this section. The bass doesn’t graph as though it has that visceral and deep bass, but I beg to differ. I’m calling the graph a liar this time folks. The bass has decent extension at a moderate level with plenty of clean and well-defined rumble. I hear good impact as well with moderate levels of slam too. Just enough to form a nice balance. The midrange has that leaner sound but with good solidity to notes. The midrange is more forward, transient fast and dynamic. The treble is also crisp, pristine and non-offensive when using the black filters. This is a slightly toned-down treble yet still with adequate brilliance and treble sheen with the black nozzles. Basically the treble fits the overall tuning very nice. The East 6 has okay extension up top too as I’m not missing anything past 10k. The soundstage is wide and tall and even has some depth to it. Detail retrieval is good for a $69 single DD, separation is great too as the sound is airy enough, open, and comes with glass lined note edges. Imaging is on point too. I honestly don’t see many faults with this set if the sound signature suits you. Of course, there certainly are subjective gripes that many people will have due to the fact that the East 6 doesn’t align with their listening preferences. That goes without saying though.
Bass Region
The low-end of the East 6 is a funny thing. Originally, I used longer, narrower tips. The fit was such that I wanted a longer tip to seal better. However, even with a narrow bore tip I felt the East 6 didn’t have a whole lot of bass energy. Then I went with shallow fit and wide bore tips. The bass came alive folks. Now I hear a deep, penetrative, and precise bass with great impact. I love the bass on the East 6 folks. I will go out on a limb and say that the bass region is one of the better bass displays under $100. It’s not over emphasized, moderate to just above moderate, but it has impact, texture, speed of decay and it’s well defined. At the crest of any low-end note is a concrete surface area full of texture and not softened in any way. Bass notes are concise, with a compressed and localized slam. Nothing hollow, soft, pillowy, or fuzzy. This is a very nice bass. Again, I didn’t hear any of this until I swapped to shallow fit wide bore tips. Just my ear anatomy so keep that in mind. The fit is still kind of funny but I’m happy to deal with it to hear this punctual, transient tight and well controlled bass.
Sub-bass
The sub-bass is a little less enriched than the mid-bass. Extension isn’t the best on planet earth as there’s a slight roll-off there, but it is more than adequate for a track like “Groove” by Ray Wylie Hubbard. I don’t get that ultra deep and extended sub-bass grovel and drone. What I do get is great timbre, definition and a moderately deep pitch to this bassline. “Mancey” by Andrew Bird is another track with a low droning and guttural bass guitar. The East 6 does a nice job to give the sound that grumbling meatiness and haptic vibratory goodness. Definitely not what bass heads would be yearning for but great for fans of a mature low-end at an affordable price who enjoy some decent rumble. Timbre is very nice in this region and the sub-bass is well separated and distinct from the mid-bass boom yet with nice cohesion between the two. “Big Hammer” is a James Blake track which features some droning and bullish type of bass. Most sets can reverb pretty deeply to this track, so it was no surprise that the East 6 was also able to moderately add some vibratory goodness and resonance to these electronic beats. It’ll get deep when called upon to do so, but stays “out of sight and out of mind” on all other occasions. For the most part, the sub-bass doesn’t cloud the low-end. It gives the mid-bass room to breathe and almost accentuates the mid-bass impact as well. It’s very nice folks.
Mid-bass
The mid-bass carries the most emphasis down low but in all honesty, the two go hand in hand. Separation is very good, and the mid-bass does a great job of “hittin’ n’ gettin”, so to speak. There is a slight amount of decay, but this is certainly a tighter mid-bass section that has good intensity, good dynamics and is well defined for a single DD. This is good for a number of reasons. That said, it isn’t a basshead iem and it doesn’t have that slower and more atmospheric low-end that some folks really enjoy. This mid-bass is not going to warm the rest of the mix, cast any veil, or provide a thick midrange. Truth is that the bass only slightly colors the midrange. So yes, there’s some bleed into the mids, but it is all to the benefit of the overall sound quality and timbre quality. I like it. Ashnikko has a song called “Don’t Look at It” which actually hits hard on the East 6. Not to the point of bass-boi enjoyment but very nice. I like the structure of the notes. They’re clean and have good precision and come across well separated from the rest of the mix. No one-noted bass here folks. There is great definition to the sound. At about 49 seconds into the track “Higher” by Stick Figure you can hear the bass drop. The East 6 really does well at separating the bass from the rest of the melody which surrounds it. All the while sounding robust and impactful.
Downsides to the Bass Region
Bass boys will probably want to keep looking. The bass is simply not so elevated that fans of huge and voluminous bass are going to jump at this set. It isn’t for those folks. Though with some mods & EQ I’m sure you can get there. Still, we are looking at stock configurations here people. Also, fans of a more atmospheric low-end who enjoy that slower, fuller, warmer sound will not like this clean and tidy bass production on the East 6. I love good bass, and this is why I really enjoy this set, but I can see how others may not agree.
Midrange
Before I get into the midrange, I want to make it well known that all of my impressions are with the black nozzle. There is a pretty big difference between the two nozzles as the red nozzle has quite a bit more shout due to the increased pinna rise. The black nozzle is much more leveled off and easy on the ears.
The midrange to me is beautifully done folks. The tuning is really special for the price. As I said prior, there is some slight fall over into the midrange from the bass region that does add some slight warmth as well as some needed body to notes. I still consider the note weight to be in the lean-lush category, meaning they are dense and full but also lean and sinewy in the way that the transients are tighter, quicker and with less of a decay. They come across beefy enough to be substantial but not thick. I liken them to “lean muscle mass”. I love this style. Many Simgot sets have similar note weight and density as well. I also find the midrange to be semi-forward and not recessed like we usually see in this price point. Vocals are nice (get to that in a minute), instruments have plenty of separation and imaging follows suit very well. Detail retrieval is really good too folks. I’m trying not to go over the top here but for $69 it’s hard to find faults outside of the fit, or some subjective preference issues that some people will have. Other than that, I feel that Muse Hifi hit the mark here, I really do.
Natural
The mids have a natural timbre to them. From the low-mids to the upper-mids there is an organic quality to the sound. To be honest, I feel I’m saying this more and more in my reviews. I suppose that brands are beginning to really listen to the populace within the audio community. Gone are the days of every set sounding like an ole’ school KZ V-shaped mess of sound. No longer am I constantly listening to recessed mids. So much so, that I didn’t even know that they were recessed. Not anymore, no sir. Maturity is the name of the game now and the East 6 has that locked. This is a midrange that’s lean-lush, clean, resolute, well separated, detailed and airy, holographic and has a wide stage. The mids are a nice mix of smooth-meets-crisp, musical-meets-technical, and persists with a slight warmth against the neutrality. Possibly warm/dark lovers will feel left out, but I think that Muse Hifi did a great job. My opinion.
Lower-midrange
The lower midrange on the East 6 features a nice sound to replay male vocals to. For the most part. I suppose there are slight times when males could use a hint more of a robust and authoritative note body. That’s all preferential though. Listening to Stephen Sanchez sing “Until I Found You” is a haunting display of delicately echoing lyrics that are crisp and rich at the same time. The instruments which swim smoothly next to his vocals like drums, piano, electric guitar and bass all come through clean and clear and well separated. Stephen’s voice sits in front of instrumentation and comes across very melodic. Chris Stapleton sings “Higher” on his latest album and it’s really a showcase track that highlights his raspy southern voice. The East 6 could possibly use a hair more harmonics in the decay and possibly a hint more girth to the body of his vocals (extremely picky, almost unfair). However, I do think he sounds very nice on the East 6. It’s the timbre and tonality which gets me. Chris’s voice cannot take any veil as you lose so much of what makes his voice amazing, in my opinion. The East 6 does so well at giving his voice that lean body without losing control at the note edge. I could say the same thing for all 22 tracks that I repeatedly listened to featuring male vocals. The only issues I found is with deeper male vocals, like Avi Kaplan. Those vocalists could simply use some more fullness. Again, ridiculously picky and also again… probably a bit unfair.
Upper-Midrange
The upper midrange is certainly emphasized and females and instruments which play in this region do come across a bit more forward than other regions. There are moments of a bit of shout in the right tracks but for the most part the upper mids are kept in nice control and don’t get out of hand. Females generally come across a bit leaner than their male counterparts with less note body and a hair crisper. This is not a bad thing, unless you are the type who loves a thicker and warmer female vocal. The positive thing is the nice amount of shimmer while keeping the upper mids in check. The timbre is really a standout feature here as you’ll hear that more organic sound. Perhaps a hint thinner than perfectly natural but really well done as well. Listening to Taylor Swift in her song “The 1” off her Long Pond Studio Sessions album is a great example of the East 6’s ability to pull off great sounding and authentic timbre. Each note is very well defined against the backdrop of a perfectly black background which is eirily nice to hear on a track like this. Also, the song “High” by Caitlyn Smith is another track that goes from whispery soft leading to the chorus and then it’s ballad from there on-out. The East 6 takes this difficult track and nails every portion of it. The svelte and soft whisper comes across clean and mellifluous while the ballad chorus section never gets out of control. All the while the instruments blaring around her voice sound separated. It really paints a nice picture. Maybe a bit lean but very nice.
Downsides to the Midrange
So, the first downside would involve the red nozzle. There is definitely more pinna rise which does come across strident and shouty on the right tracks. Even with the black nozzle you can get that from time to time but with that nozzle it isn’t enough to call a “con”. Other than those issues, I suppose that anyone who enjoys a warm/dark tonal coloration with thicker and moister, or milky midrange notes will likely not like this lean-lush approach.
Treble Region
The treble on the East 6 can either be kept in check, less airy, easier on the ears, or it can be pretty brilliant with added brightness and treble sheen. Obviously, this has to do with what nozzles you prefer. Without question I feel that treble heads could probably enjoy the red nozzles. However, I went with the black nozzles for my listening. I don’t hear anything too sharp to my ears with the black nozzles attached. The highs on the East 6 aren’t ultra-airy or super open sounding as Muse Hifi seemed to try to keep this area a hint more subdued and less over emphasized. I certainly don’t hear any forced resolution to my ears. There isn’t any pierce that would force me to turn my volume down. Again, with the black nozzles. This is a smoother treble with slightly softer note outlines while still retaining decent to good note definition. Resolution is great with the silent-black background which is evident on many tracks.
Works for the tuning
Extension past 8k isn’t the greatest compared to similarly priced iems, but also, I feel that this is a benefit to the overall tuning. Unless of course you are a treble head, at which point, I’d direct you towards the red nozzle which does give you a hint better extension. Now, having said that all, I still am not really missing anything as far as info past 10k is concerned. The bonus is that nothing is splashy like the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike. Obviously, it depends how prominent they are in the recording but even on voluminous cymbals like in the track “In Bloom” by Nirvana, they never come across sheened-out in splashy treble smear. For me personally, I like the tuning up top as I enjoy how the balance comes together across the entire mix. I hear just enough air and presence in the treble to bring some luminant levity to the sound while not crossing over into a brighter and more elevated treble sound. I just feel the treble works for the tuning.
It all checks out…
The treble is also pretty speedy. You still have that tighter decay, and each note comes across defined and with some tactility to them. We know that dynamic drivers don’t always perform the treble region perfectly, but for a $69 single DD the East 6 does a better than average job of presenting a slightly toned-down version yet with clean notes, defined note edges, and even some treble bite. Especially, using the red nozzles. I think I’ve established that now. Listening to Billy Strings in “Secrets” I was pleased to hear a tight note delivery that kept up with Billy’s rapid fire banjo play. Every note is accounted for. I wouldn’t call this “Grade-A” treble, but for what the East 6 is… it’s nice friends. There is roundness to the notes on this track and there is some texture to treble notes. Maybe a hint smoother than it is crisp and so you lose a hair of definition, but very nice. Details come across wonderfully. Again, black background, clean, tight transients. It all checks out. I feel that Muse Hifi did a great job here.
Downsides to the Treble Region
If I were to nitpick the treble region, I’d probably say that there isn’t as much air and openness as some folks would enjoy. I personally think it’s just fine, but I could see some folks complaining about that. Also, extension into the upper treble isn’t really amazing. The red nozzle helps but, in both cases, it isn’t the best. I feel that I lose almost nothing past 8-10k but I’m sure that those who truly enjoy more pronounced harmonics and info in the upper treble will take notice. Honestly, I cannot find anything else that’s really an issue. Details are good, separation is good, transient attack through sustain is tight, it’s inoffensive, non-fatiguing and really plays well off the rest of the mix. I suppose I could say that the treble is decent too good for a single DD, but you obviously have better and more talented types of drivers which depict the treble better than a dynamic driver. Of course, they still have to be tuned. Also, they cost quite a bit more. This set is $69!
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage is an area that impressed me from the get-go. I could tell right away that the East 6 does in fact have that holographic type of stage presentation that adds depth to your listening. This really amps up how good of a session you can have or how realistic the sound will be. I’ve heard a few sets under $100 with great stage presentations but the East 6 is actually very well laid out folks. I hear a nice width, just above average. Of course, if someone can tell me what “average” is, I’d love to know. This is my interpretation so, try to understand. Anyways, it’s above average. Height is the same, it’s a tall sound field too which brings the music a hint closer to the listener. In that way the sound is intimate, but the stage is still presented to the outer edges of what I perceive to be “wide & tall”. To add to that, there is actually a good front to back sense of depth and layering on the East 6. Any well recorded track will prove to you what I’m talking about. Layering is very nice folks.
Separation / Imaging
Listening with the East 6 is a special thing when you consider this set costs only $69 and you get such a talented set of earphones. Separation is certainly above the norm, or average (trying not to use that word). I hear well partitioned off elements of a stage. Instruments and voices do seem set apart from each other. I hear compartmentalized and distinct elements of a stage. Imaging is the same. It’s very good friends. It is actually very easy to tell where a “thing” is in the psycho-acoustically rendered stage. You have tight transients, good resolution, wide and tall stage with good depth, a balanced sound that doesn’t create much masking. All of this goes into the good separation and imaging that we hear. Left to right and front to back have good control. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the East 6 cost would be higher folks.
Detail Retrieval
Let’s just carry on what I’ve been saying into “details”. I know it sounds like I’m singing the East 6 or Muse Hifi’s praises, but I can assure you that this is not hype. This is a bonafide nice set! Detail retrieval is also better than your average iem under $100. That includes single DD’s, planars, hybrids, all-BA sets too. Obviously, there are some sets which are geared and tuned to illuminate the subtleties in a track and likely would be a bit better. Still, for all the East 6 does well, to be as musical as it is and still be able to supply the listener with very clean details is a great thing. The black background helps, the balance helps, the cleanliness helps, the tight note structure helps. It all helps. I could probably say that in ultra bass heavy tracks you won’t get as good details. Also, in very congested music you won’t have perfect detail retrieval either. That said, nobody is listening for details in bass dominant tracks, and nobody expects an under $100 single DD to be a detail monster in ultra congested tracks. We have to be semi-reasonable. At the end of the day, the East 6 does very well.
Comparisons
EPZ X-TIPSY Star One ($88)
The Star One (Star One Review) is another one of the best sets you can purchase under $100 folks. At least in my eyes it is. The Star One is also a single DD which uses an LCP electric regulation driver and is built very well. Meant and tuned for both stage, broadcasting, and casual listening the Star One is very well tuned. I reviewed this set a couple months ago and never wanted to take them out of my ears. I certainly feel this is one set that is a huge sleeper iem that everyone should at least consider.
Differences
We should start comparing the build quality of both of these sets. Both are built well, let’s just get that out of the way. However, one (East 6) is built like a tank and made of all-alloy. The other (Star One) is built completely of a hard resin material. Both seem built to last and neither feels cheap. I should add that the Star One is definitely going to fit more ears easier. The shape is more universal in ergonomics for a human ear. The look of the Star zone is probably a little more universally appealing whereas the East 6 has that futuristic look (Mandalorian) that will likely be a bit more polarizing in the community. Both sets are accessorized well with good tips and cables. Though the Star One only has a pouch instead of the carrying case provided in the East 6’s packaging. One last thing, there is about a $20 price difference between the two with the Star One coming in at $89 and the East 6 costing around $69.
Sound Differences
The Star One comes with a much more fun tuning. Also, it requires a bit more juice as it’s rated at 64 ohms. Take that into consideration, you’ll need something with a bit more power. It also has a bigger bass section, more emphasized treble and a hint thinner note weight too. The East 6 has a better balance, not as V-shaped and has just as black of a background, even though it’s more sensitive. Listening to the Star One it is certainly a brighter sounding set coming in at neutral to bright/neutral while the East 6 has more warmth to the sound.
Between the 20’s
I find the sub-bass rumble is more emphasized on the Star One and better extended. The East 6 is tighter, cleaner and has more of a mid-bass clean impact. I like the East 6’s more controlled and defined mid-bass and hard note outline. The Star One certainly can rumble harder but is softer in its delivery. The midrange of the East 6 has a slightly thicker and more robust note weight while the Star One is a hint leaner. Cleanliness is evident on both sets but the Star One is slightly crisper to my ears. The East 6 is a bit more forward and better for vocals as there is a smoother delivery. I’d also say that the Star One is shoutier at times. This goes for whether you’re using the red or black nozzles on the East 6. The treble is better extended on the Star One, but the overall quality is about the same on both sets. The difference is the emphasis as the Star One certainly has a more uplifted and bright treble while the East 6 is more subdued. Both sets perform admirable in all technical aspects, but I’d still say the East 6 has better staging, separation and better detail retrieval. These are minimal differences, but they’re differences, nonetheless.
Final thoughts
Folks, these are two fantastic iems in the under $100 space. I really mean that. I think overall sound fidelity probably goes to the East 6. Still, the intangibles, namely the fit is going to be a concern for many on the East 6. It may be that this is the reason that the East 6 isn’t even considered an option. It’s a shame because it is a great set. Do you want a V-shaped, fun yet also a technical sounding iem which has a musical nature? Or do you want a balanced, resolute, non-offensive sound that also has a flare for musicality while having great technical chops itself? Both are studs at the price they are set at.
Simgot EA500LM ($89)
What a set! The Simgot EA500LM (EA500LM Review) is truly one of the best you’ll hear under $100. I chose the EA500LM because of how prolific it is and how special it is at replaying almost any music library. The EA500LM is also a single DD with a 10 mm lithium-magnesium 2nd generation dynamic driver that is especially talented at recreating the entire frequency range. So yes, I chose this set to give the East 6 a hard run for its money. The EA500LM is highly regarded amongst the community and reviewers alike and will probably be considered near the top of its class or better by most folks.
Differences
As far as build is concerned, both sets are built using all alloy metal and both are built like tanks. That’s where the similarities stop in this regard because the East 6 is definitely going to be a problem for more people in the fit department. The EA500LM has that pill shaped shell body that just hugs the ear whereas the East 6 takes some fiddling and tip rolling to get a good seal. Also, I love the look of the EA500LM! Such a dope looking gun-metal colorway, simple, sleek. I do enjoy the East 6’s look as well but again; it may not suit as many hobbyists in the community. Both are very cool in my eyes. Accessories are about the same on both set but the East 6 provides more and better tips. Both cables are about the same degree of niceness for the price (remember the East 6 is $20 cheaper) and both have nice carrying cases. Again, the East 6 will cost $20 less which may seal the deal for some people. Both sets are easy to drive, and both do better with a touch more power.
Sound Differences
I feel the EA500LM is a brighter sounding set which can cause some glare much easier than on the East 6. The treble on the EA500LM is much more emphasized from the upper mids thru to the upper treble which results in a more brilliant display of my music. The East 6 has the warmer (warm/neutral) and smoother sound to a slight degree with a much less fatiguing sound. This is one huge problem area in the EA500LM as well as most Simgot iems. They do so much well but can cause some fatigue.
Between the 20’s
The East 6 carries a bigger stick with a more robust mid-bass section by a small margin. Yet again, the EA500LM has the deeper and better extended, more rumbly sub-bass. The East 6 has better definition of its entire bass experience with cleaner lines, more detailed and better separated. I’d just call it more mature and not as soft as the East 6 has a denser note body. Just better. The midrange is more forward on the East 6 which makes vocals stand out a bit more. Couple that with the fact that there is less pinna rise on the East 6 which makes for a more comfortable listen. No taking anything away from the LM either. The midranges on both sets offer a slightly different take on sound and both are stellar. Just one set (East 6) has a bit less energy and dynamics but is also more controlled and contoured with a more melodic sound, and just as musical of a sound. It all depends on what you define as “musical”. The treble is much more grandiose on the EA500LM with crisper notes, more bite and better extension. Perhaps a bit too bright for some but certainly it’s a hint better detailed. The East 6 has a less exciting treble and less airy treble but it’s also much less offensive to some.
Technicalities
Technically speaking the East 6 and the EA500LM do a nice job in almost all regards. I do feel the balance of the East 6 helps better in detail retrieval outside of the treble. The soundstage of the East 6 is a hint wider, deeper, and I feel layering is easier to discern as well (up for debate). Imaging on both is very good though separation is a hint better on the East 6.
Final thoughts
Boy is this a tough one for me. Honestly, I love both of these sets for their distinctly different take on my music library. I think I tend to lean more towards the EA500LM but lately that hasn’t been the case. It’s one of those deals where whatever set I’m spending more time with will be the temporary winner of my affection. I love them both folks. I certainly like the fit and design better in the EA500LM. The EA500LM also has that beautiful Simgot timbre though, with beautiful textures. Now, both sets have a holographic well imaged stage. Probably better laid out on the East 6 but it’s questionable. Though layering is better on the East 6. The bass on the East 6 is better too. Vocals are a bit better on the East 6 as well. Eh, I shouldn’t say any of this folks. This isn’t always true for every person. I really shouldn’t speak in absolutes like that (irresponsible reviewing) (sorry) unless it is plainly obvious. Nothing is obvious about which is better between the two of these sets. Two different signatures that are absolutely nailed!!
Is it worth the asking price?
I dont even want to dignify this question with a response. This is a no brainer if the fit is right. Without question the East 6 is worth the measly cost of $69. Heck, I’m wondering why it isn’t more. I would assume that if sales aren’t as great it may be because of the design and build which ultimately ties into the fitment. Everything past that is close to tops in class. That is the… under $100 class. No hype folks. Just genuine joy here. The East 6 is one of the best iems under $100 that almost nobody is talking about, and I wish you folks would. The sound is very well tuned and, in my opinion, actually should be compared with a price point higher.
The Why…
Once I got the fit right and put in those shallow fit, wide bore tips and shoved them in my ears it’s like the skies parted. Okay, that’s going a lil hard in the paint, but you get what I’m saying. Why is the East 6 from Muse Hifi worth the $69 US that they’re asking? Because the sound is very nice. The bass is mature, textured, precise, defined and hits with a hard impact that doesn’t sound fuzzy, soft, or hollow. Its density is great and without any lagging harmonics. Hit n’ git. The midrange excels in its natural timbre with a slight warmth and such a nice lean-lush note weight. It has lovely vocals from both male and female singers with a forward stance and a very black background, good separation, great imaging and a 3D style sound field. The treble doesn’t offend the ear and so listening for long periods is easy-peasy. I hear good detail retrieval in the treble with nice note definition for the price and adequate extension. Technically the East 6 will surprise people too. This is such a no brainer folks. That damn fit though.
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 Muse Hifi East 6 ratings below, that would be $50-$100 iems in any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number o|f othrer 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-$100 US is a huge scope of iems that is extremely competitive, and so seeing a Rating above a “9.0” better mean something very special. 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: 9.8 Built exceptionally well.
–Look: 9.5 Not for everyone, but it is a cool design.
–Fit/Comfort: 5.0 The fit is simply an issue.
–Accessories: 9.3 Very nice unboxing.
–Overall: 8.4🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.7 Within the top class in timbre.
–Bass: 9.7 Clean, defined, precise, impactful, tight.
–Midrange: 9.5 The mids are great, nuff said.
–Treble: 8.3 Not the airiest, but well done.
–Technicalities: 9.5 Technically a very fine set.
–Musicality: 9.1 Nice musicality against the competition.
–Overall: 9.4🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
Looking at my ratings above, I paired the Muse Hifi East 6 against any and all iems of any driver configuration within the $50 to $100 price point. My word folks, this is the most competitive price bracket out there. I said in my note before this section that a “9.0” better mean something special. Now, look at all the 9’s. Basically, the East 6 should at least be considered. I wish each and every one of you would be able to try this set on to see if it fits, because once they are sealed, they’re special. I don’t want to get too excited, but I am beyond happy with the tuning and thankfully I can get this set to fit just fine. It takes a minute or two, but I can do it. Once that is established the East 6 is an amazing iem at the price of under $75. As far as the ratings above, I was being conservative friends. In truth, I wanted to go higher in a few categories, but I also had to consider the Simgot EA500’s and EA500LM’s of the world. I had to consider the Artti R1’s, the Olina, Olina SE, the Galileo, Star One, Fiio JD7, and on and on. I could stretch this list out to many more that have a solid stake in the best under $100.
Explain Yourself!
Okay, as always there are a few questionable ratings that could use some explanations. First is the “Fit/Comfort” rating. The big and ugly elephant in the room. To the person that the East 6 fits perfect this should be much higher. However, to others it won’t fit at all, plain and simple. So, I had to give it a low “5.0”. Next is the “Bass” rating. Of course, I could see many people not agreeing with me that the East 6 is worth a “9.7” as the quantity may not fit their preferences. I based the rating off the quality of its bass alone, and so I do feel that it is this lofty score, but a deserved score too. I wouldn’t argue with anyone if you felt differently though. Musicality could be a bit higher too. Looking at the “Midrange” rating, I could also see some hobbyists who enjoy that warmer, darker, and richer sound not agreeing with me at all. To them the mids are probably closer to a “6.0” rather than such a high score. We are all different folks and I do hope you remember that these are only my opinions against sets that my ears have actually heard for long enough time to make a valued Rating against them. Most sets I have on hand, which makes these ratings the longest part of my entire review… Every time.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the Muse Hifi East 6, I have to Thank the good people of Muse Hifi for providing the East 6 in exchange for a feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I am so thankful I was able to hear this awesome iem. Please pat the sound engineers and tuners on the back. I am more than happy to watch where Muse Hifi goes from here. I do hope you stick with this tuning philosophy and build on it. Pay close attention to fitment from here on out because everything else rates very close to TOP IN CLASS. Great job!
Recommended
I cannot walk away from this review without officially recommending the East 6. I feel that you won’t hear much better than the East 6 in actual sound quality within the “under $100 price point”. Providing folks agree with the tuning and you can achieve a good fit and seal of course. Truly a special iem that I am more than happy to have been able to spend some time with. This is a easy rec, with the one glaring caveat. That is, the fit. This set may not fit and that’s just the truth. What a shame because it is really a well done iem. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but also… Recommended.
Other perspectives
Please, check out other reviews and other thoughts of the Muse Hifi East 6. It’ll only benefit you to read, listen to, or watch other perspectives for different reviewers. We aren’t all the same and have many things which differentiate us with one another. That could be our music library, our ability to actually hear, our likes and dislikes, our audio gear we have on hand to use, and we haven’t all been down the same road in audio. So, take time to check out other thoughts. You’ll be happy you did. With that, I’m done friends. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible, and always…God bless!