ODA Hesperus A300 “Wood Edition” Review 

Intro 

Hello, this review and feature covers the latest from the newer audio brand ODA (One Dot Audio) named the ODA Hesperus A300 “Wood Edition” ($359) or as they call it in the east; the “Korea Edition”. For review purposes I will simply call the Hesperus A300 Wood Edition “Hesperus WE”. At any rate, the Hesperus WE is a three-driver set featuring all balanced armature drivers and it is made out of stabilized wood creating a beautiful design. More on that later. For now, I am still in the waiting period. Waiting for the Hesperus WE to arrive at my home and I am utterly curious about this set. I am so very curious about this brand (with whom I know little to nothing about) as well, and I am very curious about what sort of tuning this set will have. 

All BA

I have always been a fan of the balanced armature. When done right, the balanced armature driver can truly put out some of the best audio. I’ve always enjoyed a well done all-BA iem. In every price point (besides ultra-budget) I have some absolute favorites. There are sets which feature only balanced armature drivers that have amazing timbre quality, dynamics, technical skills, and altogether great buys. Sets like the KZ AM16 (AM16 Review), the KZ Sonata (Sonata Review), the Aful MagicOne (MagicOne Review), Hiby Yvain (Yvain Review). Past $200 you have sets like the wonderful legendary set, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (Orchestra Lite Review). In fact, I just reviewed another masterpiece in the +$900 Letshuoer Mystic 8 (Mystic 8 Review). Shoot, I’ve spent quality time with multiple kilo-buck all-BA sets like the $4,500 AME Mousa (Mousa Review). The point is that when done right, when tuned right, an all-balanced armature set can sound flat out amazing. 

$359?

What I like about the Hesperus WE is that ODA chose not to give this set a million drivers but instead opted for a very simple configuration of only three balanced armature drivers. I love this. I like a brand who doesn’t feel compelled to over-complicate things. One driver to cover each 3rd of the mix (bass, mids, treble). Of course, there are certainly ways in which all-BA sets can falter. As many solid qualities as there are in the balanced armature, there are also nagging issues as well. Hence why I am very curious about this set. With all-BA sets I’m both intrigued as well as tentative with reserved thoughts full of preconceived doubts. I wanted to see why ODA felt that $359 was a good price. This brand obviously isn’t out for a money grab. They didn’t just slap drivers in a shell. It’s apparent that they love this hobby and care about their craft. So, again I say to you; I am utterly curious about this set folks. 

ODA 

Well everyone, there really isn’t much to learn about (that I can find) when it comes to One Dot Audio. I found out that ODA is literally in its infancy as it debuted in August of 2023. At least that’s what I read on the internet. I find it so compelling that a brand so new comes into the market with such high-profile products. Like I said earlier, it is clear to me that the people of ODA really do love their craft, they seemingly love the hobby, and they obviously take a very careful approach to creating these products. At the moment ODA has a grand total of six iems within their catalog. Those sets are the ODA Dolphin 100, the Helios, Hesperus A300, the Hesperus A300 “Korea Edition”, as well as their flagship iem, the Amarantine A500 and the Amarantine E500 Korean Edition. So, tI should also note that they’ve got a couple beautiful cables as well. You can check them all out HERE. anyways, they’ve come out of the gate hitting on all cylinders and from the appearance of their lineup of iems; every single one of them are gorgeous folks. Obviously, this brand means business and obviously they have a good understanding of the market as well as consumer interest. 

ODA means business

Well friends, the ODA Hesperus Wood Edition has finally arrived, and I can already tell a couple things right away. First off: I’m definitely going to review this set. No doubt about that. Next: the Hesperus WE is going to be a solid offering within its price point for those who desire its particular tuning style. I don’t feel that the Hesperus WE is what I’d call an “All-Rounder” … thus far. However, “thus far” it is a very nicely built iem, it’s gorgeous, and it sounds very nice. A very melodic, fun, and energetic iem with such a technically adept and precise portrayal of my music library (obviously, more on that later). Ya know, after spending a few hours with this set I can already declare that ODA means business folks. I already want to check out every set from this brand. At any rate, I am sending the Hesperus WE off to the burn-in station for a few days (I know, I know, BA’s shouldn’t need burn-in. I’m doing it anyway). After that I am going to spend a couple weeks getting intimate with this lovely set which involves critical listening and making it an everyday carry for a while. So, with all that said I’m definitely ready to get going. Without further ado…the One Dot Audio Hesperus “Wood Edition” … 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–OneDotAudio

Hesperus WE Pros

-Build quality is especially great with its stabilized wood housing

-Truly a beautiful iem

-Nice unboxing experience with a fantastic included cable

-The fit and comfort of the Hesperus WE is awesome for my ears

-Extremely sensitive iem (also can be a con) 

-Very melodic sounding set with great clean musicality

-No obvious BA timbre

-Nicely balance across the mix

-Fast, tight, and penetrative low-end. Very nice bass for a balanced armature 

-Natural and energetic midrange, wonderful for vocalists. Very tuneful

-Crisp treble region with solid extension, highly detailed

-Detail Retrieval 

-Instrument separation 

-Imaging capabilities are very solid

-Nice holographic soundstage

Hesperus WE Cons

-Price may seem a bit much for some folks (I find the price to be fine) 

-Moments of some upper end glare at times

-Timbre isn’t perfectly natural

-Warm-musicality lovers may not enjoy the tonality of the Hesperus WE 

-Ever-so-slight bit of sibilance, at times (This is me being very picky)  

-Extremely sensitive set of earphones (can also be a good thing)

-Very much tip dependent  

Gear used for testing 

–Shanling UP6

–Shanling UA6 

–Ifi Go Blu 

–Hidizs S9 Pro Plus  

–Shanling H0

–Hidizs AP80 Pro Max 

–Fiio JM21 

–Hiby R3 Pro II

–Hiby R6 Pro II 2025 

–Shanling M1 Plus

–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra 

–Fiio Q15

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing

The Hesperus WE arrived at my home in a medium sized modest black box, very simple, no ornate or overly artsy graphics or giant pictures of the Hesperus WE. Actually, I really like the minimalist style of this packaging. I like that there isn’t some crazy artistic rendering on the outer sleeve cover. Yet somehow even with just a black box and the name of the product… It’s pretty cool. At any rate, take off the outer sleeve and you’ll see the exact same design. Open the box top and right away you’ll be met with the gorgeous ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition with the cable attached, neatly sitting inside of foam cut-outs. On the same level just under the Hesperus WE are the accessories box. Then, right under the accessories box (on the same level) is the nice looking green carrying case. Inside of the packaging you’ll also find the eartips, as well as a cleaning tool. It’s a decent unboxing for the cost with all solid enough accessories for the cost. 

Eartips

So, ODA offers a total of six pairs of eartips over two slightly different styles of tips. I say different styles, but really these two styles of tips are extremely similar in many ways. They both are very close to the KBear 07 tips, yet slightly less firm in the flange. However, both are very nice tips for any collection and I’m glad that ODA provided them. Anyways, the first set of three (S, M, L) eartips are white silicone, black stem tips which have a semi-wide bore. These tips have a fairly firm flange and a rigid stem and so they do a very nice job of sealing within the ear. I could potentially use these tips and get a nice seal every time. The next set of three (S, M, L) are gray silicone eartips with an orange stem. Now, these are also a semi-wide bore set, and they also have a rigid stem. These too are great for sealing in most ears. Thankfully neither set is flimsy. Who likes flimsy eartips? In all truth folks, I like both styles of tips provided quite a lot, and I wasn’t going to tip roll. However, as always curiosity got the best of me, and I had to check out some other eartips. I went through way too many to name. What I landed on (after much personal deliberation) was the Final Audio E-Tips. Believe it or not. I simply feel that the E-Tips add such a dynamic and controlled sound to this set. Very-very nice. 

Tip sensitive 

Now, in the process of going through eartips I did learn one crucial thing about the Hesperus WE. That is; the ODA Hesperus WE are very much a tip sensitive iem. I really feel that if you are planning on picking up this very nice sounding all-BA iem that it would behoove you to go through every set of eartips in your arsenal. I have noticed something, when an iem has the triple bore nozzle similar to the Hesperus WE (or a multi-bore nozzle), they usually are very tip sensitive. Well, more sensitive than the typical iem. Also, “typically” I would say that triple bore nozzles sound better with a wide bore eartip. I find that blocking any of those bores changes up the sound quite a bit. Having said that, the Final E-Tips sound great to my ears even though they are a narrow bore style eartip. Just some food for thought. Try to check out as many tips as possible. 

Carrying Case 

One Dot Audio also provides another high-quality accessory in the carrying case. There’s something about a nice carrying case which makes the entire package better somehow. I rarely even use carrying cases that come with any iem, however, I still want to see a solid, nice, and classy carrying case. Coincidentally, solid, nice, and classy are exactly how I would describe the carrying case added into the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition’s package. In all seriousness, ODA made sure to add a case which color matches the iem and is built very well. So, the case provided is a small rectangular box cladded in grass green leather and almost a “crocodile skin” texture as well. It’s a two-part case held on by a flap and held shut by magnets. The case is just large enough to fit the Hesperus WE, the cable, maybe some extra tips, and perhaps a very small dongle dac. Maybe something like the EPZ TP35 Pro. Again, I typically never use cases, but I’ve actually used this case for quite a few occasions. Not bad at all. 

Cable

This brings us to the best accessory that was provided within the ODA Hesperus WE’s packaging, that is the cable. I feel that the cable is something which all brands should try really hard to get right. In fact, I feel that it’s more important than 99% of brands care to admit. Most brands find the cheapest cable that they can find, and they usually slap it into the packaging. Not too often do I see brands who actually care about this. We don’t want to buy a whole extra cable! Thankfully, ODA seems to understand this because the cable provided actually looks pretty darn nice with the Hesperus WE. It’s a substantially fat cable with a nice-looking braid. It has what I’d call a mix between a gun-metal & silver colorway. The cable itself is a 4-strand pure copper cable with silver plating (at least I assume that’s what it is). I hear no microphonic noises, it rolls up nice without springing apart, and it doesn’t pull on the Hesperus WE when they are in my ears. Really a slick looking color contrasted with the yellows, greens, & orange colors of the Hesperus WE. Basically… it looks dope. Much more important is that it’s actually made well and sounds good. Nice choice ODA! 

Build / Design / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

The build quality of the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition is one of its most excellent qualities. Anything made out of stabilized wood is a winner in my book. I find the build to be of very high quality. I say this because of just how difficult it actually is to make a stabilized wood housing. We buy these sets and totally overlook the craftsmanship which goes into this process. First off, it’s a multi-step process which requires a high level of skill and know-how. To get proper stabilization you have to infuse whatever wood is chosen with resin material while it’s under vacuum pressure in a dedicated chamber specifically meant for the piece. Then, if all goes right the wood has to be heat cured for a certain amount of time. That’s the easy part. Oh, and by the way… there’s nothing easy about it. The hard part is shaping and forming the piece along with all that is required to craft an acoustic cavity, getting ear impressions, painstakingly coming up with the molds you’d want, not to mention actually installing drivers, the wiring etc. Imagine how many times they need to form these shells just to go back to the drawing board and try another design structure. I should also add that there are many points where this could go wrong. Foaming of the resin, improperly curing, moisture trapped in the wood and a hundred other ways that this can get screwed up. Granted, I’m sure that these brands have come up with a streamlined way of going about this, but it’s no simple task. So, when I say that the build is impressive, I really do mean it. It’s impressive folks. Also, have you looked at these shells, they’re beautifully made. 

Very well built

At any rate, every corner, every rolling and convex side of this set is sculpted very nicely. Not a rough or sharp corner to be found. No glue joints, no mess-ups. I give ODA a ton of credit. Honestly, they did as good a job as Shanling did in the Shanling MG600. Which is saying something. You’ll notice that the nozzles are a triple-bore style which basically means that there are three small bores being used for different drivers and venting of the Hesperus WE. The nozzles themselves are right around the standard 6mm, and I’d say they’re medium in length, or average length. Not too long and not too shallow. Very ergonomic in their fit. Of course, I can only speak for myself when I say that, but the fit is great. Also, the Hesperus WE is a very lightweight set of earphones. There’s nothing heavy about this set which means long sessions will not be fraught with fatigue. ODA did a nice job folks. 

Design

This obviously brings us directly into the design language of this stabilized wood set and my opinion of it is just as you’d probably guess; it’s gorgeous. The colors aren’t even colors that I’d usually find appealing. However, the way they swirl and blend in their unpredictable wood grain manner make them very nice to look at. Granted, I’d love to see a deep blue and silver coloration, or maybe a mocha brown and cream. However, I’m not complaining at all because this set is absolutely awesome. I can’t praise the artisans at ODA enough. Truly a beautiful set. To be honest, all of ODA’s sets in their catalog look very nice. Anyways, once again, nice work ODA. 

Internals

One Dot Audio decided to craft the Hesperus A300 Wood Edition as a three driver all balanced armature set, just like the ‘non’ special edition A300. That means you have one BA to cover the lows, one BA to cover the midrange, and one BA to cover the highs. Now, I know very little about the drivers and any tech housed within these shells. There is almost no info on the Hesperus WE and I got very little from ODA. Which is fine. Doing some probing, I did find out that they used one Knowles BA and two custom BA’s. Full disclosure. I don’t know anything else, and I’m okay with that. In truth, I actually kind of like it. I like that ODA went with three drivers. One for each 3rd (bass, mids, treble) of the mix. It’s simple, it’s well broken up, and three drivers makes perfect sense. ODA opted to not make this set overly complicated… and I absolutely applaud them for it. They didn’t fall for the gimmick of having a thousand drivers in their iems. Folks, maybe you didn’t know, but more drivers doesn’t automatically mean better sound. It’s always about implementation folks. More drivers have the potential for audible issues like poor timing, increased distortion, phase cancellation, and lack of cohesiveness etc. in the same breath, more drivers can sound amazing, but it isn’t a guarantee. No matter how many drivers are used, it’s about the implementation folks. Again, how often has more drivers complicated the spectrum, actually harming the listening experience? I’ll answer that for you… a lot. However, this is one area which I feel will likely be a point of contention for some folks. Truth is, I am very impressed by ODA. 

Fit / Comfort 

I already spoke briefly about how nice the Hesperus WE fit my ears. Basically, I said that the Hesperus WE has an ergonomically friendly design, it’s very lightweight, and they have nothing but smooth corners. Nothing rough or edgy. It’s just a nice fitting set which doesn’t add any fatigue whatsoever. I’ve used this set for hours and hours in my office folks. Never once did they become fatiguing for me. Of course, I have no idea how they will fit you, but I feel that they should be really nice for the great majority of hobbyists. 

Drivability / Pairings 

Output power

One thing I can tell you with 1000% assurance is that the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition is going to be one of the more sensitive iems that you’ll use. Please believe me on that. So, the ODA Hesperus WE are rated for an impedance of right around 8 ohms along with a sensitivity of 119 SPL/mW. Basically, anything that you have which carries at least a 3.5 single ended port will have plenty of juice to drive this set. Friends, the Hesperus WE gets loud! Very loud. In fact, it took much less actual volume to drive this set than just about any set that is in my collection. Shoot, it’s more sensitive than just about any set I’ve ever used… period. As always (with all my reviews) I tried the Hesperus WE with every one of my sources. That involves two different old Android phones with 3.5 se ports, three different “no name” Conexant 3.5 se dongle dacs, weak Bluetooth adapters like the KZ AN01 & AZ20, along with my iPad as well. Friends, I had zero issue driving this set with any of those sources. 

More power

As nice as it is to have a sensitive iem, I also want to point out that a little bit more power does bring the Hesperus WE to its greatest potential. Now, I’m most certainly not saying that you need to put your 1watt daps on high gain. Not saying that. In fact, just having a decent dongle dac will suffice. You really don’t need a ton of power at all. I have quite a few daps that I’ve used with this set and going with low to medium gain really helped the Hesperus WE to sound cleaner, more controlled, and dynamic without causing distortions of any kind. Again, all you need is a decent dongle dac, but if you have a solid dap or desktop setup then any of these types of source devices will have plenty of juice to bring the Hesperus WE to its best fidelity. 

Sonic Pairings 

Now, as far as the tonal pairing with different source devices, I always prefer something on the warmer side with this set. Whether it be warm or warm/neutral. Honestly, I even have neutral sources which sound nice too. Perhaps just stray from anything brighter and less organic. The Hesperus WE can shine a bit bright up top with the wrong source. Anything which boosts the treble or upper mids is going to likely embellish the Hesperus WE’s already fairly bright signature. So, unless you like bright sounding sets I would stray from anything too bright. With that said, I found that the Hesperus WE worked wonderfully with many different devices. My absolute favorite is with the Shanling M6 Ultra. However, I spent a huge amount of time using the Fiio Q15, Fiio JM21, Shanling M1 Plus, Shanling UA6, UP6, as well as the Hidizs AP80 Pro Max. Each of these devices paired very well sonically with the Hesperus WE. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I dive into the sound portion of this review, I first want to add some small tidbits which may or may not make a difference to you. First off, I did burn-in the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition even though I know that balanced armature drivers typically don’t react the same way to burn-in. I did it anyways. I don’t think that I recognized much of a change so it may not be worth it to you. Also, I listen mainly to flac or better files along with some MP3’s which are stored on my devices and rarely stream my music. The Android music player of my choice is mainly UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as well as the Hiby Music Player. For this review I used Final Audio E-Tips for most of my critical listening and used the cable that came with the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition. 

What’s it sound like? 

To my ears the One Dot Audio A300 Hesperus Wood Edition most definitely carries a very musical and transparent sounding U-shaped to W-shaped sound signature with a warm/neutral tonal coloration. Let me clarify; there is an ever-so-slight touch of warmth which adds just enough richness that overlays an otherwise clean neutral sound. One more thing, there’s a touch of brilliance to energize the top end as well. A very nice dynamic balance which doesn’t seek to promote any one area of the mix more-so than another. Well, perhaps the upper midrange sits a hair more forward, but the way it all comes together is quite nice. ODA made sure to tune this set with smoothly lathered texture in mind, yet with very clean lines. From the sub-bass to the upper treble, I hear a highly resolute sound, a very well contoured sound, with nice note control, tighter transients, and a very energetic feel with expressive and vibrant macro-dynamics. However, it’s the balance of the spectrum mixed with its heavy-handed, potent, yet fast-twitch punchy style of bass. Add in its melodic, semi-rich, semi-forward, tuneful and effortlessly detailed midrange. Then put an illuminated bow on the spectrum with the Hesperus WE’s sparkly and extended treble. In my opinion, when I step back and look at the Hesperus WE from a bird’s eye view it certainly stands toe to toe with the some very well regarded +$300 all-BA iems, that I’ve personally heard. 

Musical / Analytical 

It’s a complete tuning which isn’t trying to be the picture of technical precision yet reveals the subtleties in a very natural and even-handed way. If I were to offer a musicality/analytical split, I’d say it’s 60/40. The sound comes across seasoned, mature. Just as musically fluent as it is focused and defined. As I said, ODA wasn’t “trying” to squeeze out the musicality or force the top end resolution as the picture of technical precision. In the same breath, the Hesperus WE isn’t that bass focused, warm-velvet, and buttery style sound either. It’s somewhere in between if you ask me. You see, the Hesperus WE is able to rhythmically engage the listener, draw out emotion, and move the listener in an enchanting way. It’s also well able to create space, with focused, glass-lined notes, and a keen ability to illuminate the details, place instruments within the sound field, and layer that sound field with solid dimensionality. Once you get the tips right, the source right, and once the brain-burn has kicked in the ODA Hesperus WE is quite nice. 

Timbre 

Beyond all of that, I find that the Hesperus WE have some very nice timbre for an all-BA set. Close to organic, but not quite. One thing is clear; the timbre is very palatable, easy to listen to, and my music sounds great through it. I hear a definite richness in a slightly leaner form. The Hesperus WE have nice note density with a fairly realistic quality to it. However, according to my definition of “natural” the Hesperus WE just miss that mark. There’s a hint too much brilliance for that and the transient attack through sustain is a hair quicker and tighter than natural. You won’t hear that atmospheric decay or the analog style old school timbre here. There’s a vibrance to the sound which sounds wonderfully balanced with the weight of the lows and the forward nature of the midrange. Having said all of that, I really like the timbre just as it is. No, it’s not “perfectly natural” and after listening to this set for so many days I don’t even think I’d want it to be anything but what ODA has tuned it to be. A variation of natural, if you will.  

Some Issues?

Now, there will likely be some detractors and those folks who simply won’t have the same opinion as I. Of course, this set has its subjective quirks, its issues, and no it isn’t perfect. There are some moments of some glare in the right track, and this is not that perfect organic timbre set either, as I’ve already said. Bassheads won’t be impressed. This set is not a detail beast per say and isn’t going to attract those analytical heads who desire that ultra dry and clinical sound. Granted, it can pull out some amazing details for such a tuning. That may sound like a contradiction, but trust me, it isn’t. Still, overall, it has a clean sound, a smooth sound, and a sound which many folks will enjoy. 

Bass Region 

The low-end of the ODA Hesperus WE have a solid feel to it. It has this reserved weight which is only felt when a track calls for it while adding just enough color and a very significant and substantial rigidity and note body. The Hesperus WE’s bass region is not one which will inflict its warmth frequency-wide and it certainly is not the type of overarching bass which adds any veil. Basically, the low-end isn’t going to saturate the mix or congest the mix. It’s pretty tight, well separated, not too wide, and seemingly never muddy. Also, it isn’t weak, it isn’t pillowy, and I feel the bass has that satisfying bullishness when it needs to. Really very nice for an all-BA set of earphones. ODA was able to add some “feel” to the sublevels and a forceful enough punch and slam when a track carries such a thing. I’m just trying to give you an idea of what to expect. Most BA sets seem to lack that depth, the feel, and the overall weight of a dynamic driver whether they have an emphasized bass or not. In my opinion the only thing which separates the Hesperus WE’s BA bass and a typical DD bass is the transient speed which doesn’t let a note linger or come to completion all the time. Besides that, the Hesperus WE have a high quality low-end which still manages to come across pretty fun too. In truth, the bass is very well integrated into the sound signature with a full-bodied and robust sound as well as the agility and dexterity to maneuver around complicated bass passages without much issue. 

Sub-Bass 

For an all-BA iem, the sublevels of the Hesperus WE’s bass region run pretty darn deep. Deep enough to give some haptic feedback to my listening experience. It runs deep enough to rumble in a very juddering way to “Heavy is the Ocean” by Bush. So thick, so weighted in density, yet never more muddy than the track is recorded to be. If that makes sense. Very guttural, deep in pitch, and while this track presents a bulbous amount of bass, the Hesperus WE doesn’t sound too thick to miss the nuances of the song. Another song is “Got Your Back” by Washed Out. Once again, the bass sounds full in body, clean in note outline, yet crisp in its darkly vibrant rendition of this track’s heavy synth bass. It sounds awesome and I am very impressed by this sublevel rumble. I keep going back to “it sounds great for a BA bass” but really, it sounds like good bass no matter the driver type or configuration. The best part is that the Hesperus WE’s sub-bass still doesn’t dominate the spectrum. In no way does it smear the bass, and it works nicely alongside the weight afforded to the mid-bass as well. Not bad at all folks. 

Mid-Bass 

Looking at the mid-bass, I find the emphasis to also be fairly energized, potent, robust enough, yet also it comes through with a more form-fitted display. I’d say the mid-bass is just above moderate, or bullish to be fun yet not sloppy. The mid-bass isn’t the type which forces its will upon the midrange, and it isn’t the type which will mask the spectrum to any detrimental degree. I find the mid-bass is rich enough to give those deep sublevel bass guitar notes some fullness of body. Like the electric bass guitar in Collective Soul’s track “Bluer Than So Blue”. Every inflection of that riff comes through crystal clear, rounded, full-bodied, but also substantial. Also, kick drums sound very satisfying for my ears. For the most part anyways. Listening to Kaleo’s track “Glass House” with the ODA Hesperus WE in my ears produces moderately big, hollow, and booming kick drums with a percussive snap on attack and a very buoyant but also robust feel. There’s a fair bit of color and warmth added to these drums while also sounding fairly realistic. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

For me, I don’t have any issues with this bass. I say that because I know what BA bass sounds like and I know what to expect. The good thing is that the Hesperus WE sounds close to a DD in timbre but is fast enough and pretty tight as well. However, without question there will be DD purists who need the analog and atmospheric decay of a solid dynamic driver. Those folks probably shouldn’t even be reading this. However, the bass doesn’t come across as perfectly organic as a DD. Which is to be expected. Can I tell you all a secret? Sometimes balanced armatures sound better to me in this region. Don’t tell anyone I said that. I did say “sometimes”. Anyways, I really don’t find anything truly wrong with this bass other than emphasis issues that some folks may have. Like, bassheads for example. Bassheads are most certainly not going to go for this set. We can mark off bass-bois. Also, those ultra tight and analytical heads who want a bass which is sometimes seen and rarely heard. Those folks may be let down a bit because the Hesperus WE are certainly emphasized, and fun. Like I said earlier, the bass is just above moderate. In truth, I love the sound of this bass and feel that ODA did a solid job. 

Midrange 

Now we look at the midrange of the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition. I find that ODA created a very nice sounding all-BA iem which honestly doesn’t exhibit any of the metallic timbre that we’ve seen on more budget all-BA sets. The midrange of the ODA Hesperus WE actually sounds pretty close to realistic in its tone. As I said in the opening of the “Sound Portion” of this review; the Hesperus WE come very close to organic yet has just a tad bit more vibrance to go with the blanket neutrality. It also has a full sound, a clarity rich sound, with expressive and fun macro-dynamics. I hear nothing overtly fatiguing either, even with the more radiant top end. Though more sensitive ears may disagree. Still, even with that vibrance, the Hesperus WE does sound more natural than it doesn’t with very nice cohesiveness, fantastic control, and some nice timbre. Transients are slightly more rapid than natural which kind of steers this set away from what I’d call “perfectly life-like”. However, it’s such a fun, dynamic, energetic, and non-boring sound. Its mids are very clean, very melodic, nicely detailed, and every midrange note is well sculpted for having such a rhythmically, glass lined, and smoothly cadent sound. 

Nicely done

Now, to my ears, the mids come across more forward than a typical V-shaped sound. I don’t hear any true recession, no attenuation of the low-mids, and the midrange really doesn’t sound pushed back. No doubt there is some healthy prominence to this midrange. Great for vocalists. Also, the Hesperus WE’s midrange has a very clean neutral sound with just enough low-mid warmth to render a semi-rich note body, and just enough brilliance to sound energetic, open, and free of any sort of veil. You’ll hear nothing murky, and always crystalline, clean-lined, nothing grainy and nothing metallic sounding. I’ll say it again; there is definitely a focus on clean-musicality with this set. The Hesperus WE are not tuned to be a technical monster with dry analytical tones and isn’t what I’d call “clinical” in its note delivery. The Hesperus WE have too much of a fluidity and groovy euphony to come across clinical or analytical. I should also add that the midrange has plenty of crispness and precision to go with that smoother cadence. It’s actually very nicely done. 

Technically Gifted

Having said that, let’s get one thing clear; no this set isn’t tuned in an analytical fashion, but the Hesperus WE are a solid technical iem anyways, and the midrange proves this to me every time I listen. I hear nice detail retrieval, solid note separation, very solid imaging, it’s open and airy sounding as well. Like I said, transients are anything but slow. I hear a fairly agile sound in this region, smooth in its cadence yet it has that nice acute attack and a quicker decay. So, in one sense the midrange comes across highly musical, yet it also doesn’t skimp on the technical stuff either. These BA drivers produce a very clear and clean sound. Let’s put it this way; you won’t be missing many details and there’s really nothing which will mask those subtleties either. 

Lower-Midrange 

The lower midrange has a nice substantial note body which gives males that heft to their vocals without sounding veiled, or too warmed. I do hear some spillover of warmth and weight from the bass region, but it isn’t to the point that this warmth is blending sounds or becoming less transparent. It has a very tasteful amount of bleed into this range. There’s definitely a nice, controlled edge to most low-mid notes which help male vocalists to sound etched-out and in front of other instruments. Males like Alex Warren in “Ordinary” sounds soothing, full in body and very harmonious, but mainly he sounds very clear and clean. I don’t know how else to say it. I like hearing males on this set because they have that anterior positioning in the sound field without coming across thin, too energetic, or too edgy. For instance, Chris Stapleton’s vocals in the song “Broken Halos” can at times sound subtly abrasive or edgy. The Hesperus WE will render his voice in such a way that his vocals are crisp, clean-lined, but not abrasive. Beyond that, his voice comes through very soothing, bodied without the veil. Males all generally sound very nice folks. 

Upper-Midrange 

The upper midrange most certainly has even more exuberance, more vibrance, and this region has that shimmery sheen to the sound. As you might have guessed, the upper mids are also more forward in the sound field. They sound intimate yet also very airy and open sounding. I’d definitely say that the upper ranges of the mids come across slightly thinner in body without sounding “dry” or “thin” per say. Really just a very high level of resolution. The upper mids have a very nuanced and articulate note presentation that’s less colored and closer to neutral. This is a nicely textured region, it’s lively, it’s energetic, and the upper mids are highly detailed as well. Singers like Sia in the song “I Forgive You” shows off the Hesperus WE’s ability to sound very vibrant and sprightly without coming across glaring or too abrasive. Sia’s vocals usually sound very edgy. Something about her voice and the way iems render her voice that brings in a coarse note edge at times. So many sets cannot replicate her more resounding moments very well, those times where she’s really belting out her tunes. The Hesperus WE keep those edgy moments under control. This track has plenty of those emotionally driven and vibrant-resounding inflections in her voice and the Hesperus WE really does handle them very well. There’s a fine line between sounding vibrant and clean, or vibrant and abrasive. Thankfully the Hesperus WE sounds like the former. Really, this set has very nice note control and the upper mids are a perfect example of that. 

Upper-mids cont… 

Granted, I’m not going to tell you that you’ll never hear glare either because there are some tracks which will come across slightly too ardent in energy or strident in inflection. Songs like “Sensitive” by Megan Trainor at higher-than-average volume level will exhibit that coarseness to the more sensitive listener. I find that the Hesperus WE are tuned in such a way that brings the upper mids to the brink of comfort, but that radiance is capped just shy of what I’d call “shouty” or “too harsh” for my ears. Of course, we are all very different and I’m sure that if you desire a warm and rich sound with darker hues than the Hesperus WE may not be for you. You have to enjoy a livelier presentation. The bonus is that resolution, clarity, textures, and details are all very discernible with this set. I enjoy that females aren’t affected to a detrimental degree by this upper mid liveliness and most instruments sound airy, open, well separated, and very nicely layered. As I said earlier, the midrange in general sounds close to natural, but also just a hair too vibrant to be deemed “perfectly natural”. Having said that, the timbre is not metallic, it isn’t abrasive, and the timbre has that neutral-natural coloration with just a bit more energy. Fantastic for anyone who prioritizes instrument separation, clarity, and a very dynamic presence in their music along with clean and intimate vocals. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

To my ears the Hesperus WE can be a hair shouty, as I just got done explaining. However, there is an asterisk on that. I feel that this only really applies to those who are very sensitive. If you can handle some brilliance and you like that energy present in the dynamic portions of your music, then the Hesperus WE will be right up your alley. I know I don’t need to say it, but this hobby is so very unique in how subjectively different all of its hobbyists are. Nothing is for everyone. I can easily picture someone praising the Hesperus WE from the rooftops, and just as easily I could see someone who simply doesn’t enjoy its presentation. This is what I’d call a polarizing sound. It won’t be for everyone, though who the Hesperus WE does fit… they’ll absolutely love it. The midrange is a huge reason for that. I adore the vocals on this set, and I love the clarity for instruments, the smoothly fluid cadence yet crisp and vibrant note definition is such a nice tincture. Layering of sounds is nicely accomplished as well. Still, the one downside which I feel will keep some folks from picking up this set is that it isn’t that analog, warm, plush/rich and velvet style musicality that so many seem to enjoy nowadays. I think this set’s midrange is great folks. Still, there is that glare which is present on some tracks.

Treble Region 

This brings us to the highs on the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition. The treble is characterized mostly by its very revealing nature. In fact, it’s tuned to be a more revealing and lively sounding treble. No doubt the Hesperus WE carry a treble with enough brilliance and emphasis to add some levity across the mix. The treble provides the snap for percussion, the sweet edginess to the rebound of a string on a beautiful acoustic guitar, the harmonic crash of cymbals. I can easily hear it all, discern it all, and for the most part, I can enjoy it all. This treble is mostly characterized by its vibrant energy, its heightened state of clarity, the airiness that it provides, along with its very nice extension into the upper treble. This treble is lively, it’s sprightly, and there’s a toned-down but luster-filled radiance which adds some definite sparkle to the spectrum. To add to that, the treble is anything but recessed and is in fact pretty prominent within the spectrum. Now, I’d probably say that it presents a nice balance between the bass and mids, and definitely a nice contrast to the dynamism within the bass region and that they do somewhat cancel each other out from being too saturated. Certainly, the treble is high in transparency, high in detail retrieval, very crisp too, as well as rigid in its note structure helping notes to feel substantial, well defined, and contoured, not weak or splashy. 

Nice Bite

The highs in this set most certainly have some solid treble bite as well. The Hesperus WE carry that crisp energy, that rigid treble punch too. No, it won’t go toe-to-toe with some amazing EST drivers, and no it won’t be a treble head’s dream. Yet the highs on this set have that glass-lined note surface without being so intense that every track features crazy treble tizz. Notes are clean folks. Very nicely contoured for a single BA and with nice tonal contrast. 

Technically Gifted

Detail retrieval is one of the benefits of a slightly heightened treble region. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that this set has “forced-resolution”, but I would say that the lift up top helps tremendously to bring those micro-details to the surface. Honestly, the emphasis that ODA tuned the treble with fits the scheme, or the identity of this set. That lift does quite a lot to aid the rest of the mix in instrument separation, overall dynamism and macro-dynamic exuberance, as well as providing a cleaner and more transparent canvas for the minutia to rise to the surface, so to speak. The transient quick attack and precise recovery trims the fat of each note, opening up some space between those notes. Additionally, this is a faster treble folks. There really isn’t a track that it cannot keep up with. I usually bring up tracks like “Ice Bridges” by Billy Strings, and I do so for a reason. That’s because there is quite a bit of treble info, and those treble notes are rapid fire. The Hesperus WE’s treble has zero issues with this track. There’s some very fast flat picking which comes across as crisp, vivid, and defined with the Hesperus WE which highlights the technical skills of this set. Of course, on lesser sets these sounds can blur a bit more and won’t sound quite as distinct. 

Brilliant and clean dynamics

Now, the treble is taken care of by one sole balanced armature driver and that driver keeps some nice timbre, even if it is not the most natural that I’ve ever heard. However, as I said, it fits the overall tuning rather well. No doubt there are those who are going to complain a bit about the sparkle up top and I’m sure some may dislike this aspect of the Hesperus WE’s tuning. I would expect no less. Of course, for those who enjoy some fun and excitement in this region and who like to hear the brilliant and clean dynamics of a well-tuned balanced armature melting right into the signature of a well-tuned set, I think the Hesperus WE may be a set you’d like. Really a nicely tuned treble. I say that but this tuning style isn’t even my favorite. I actually prefer a bit more warmth and a hair less treble emphasis, but I have really enjoyed the Hesperus WE and the treble has a lot to do with that. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

I think the biggest issue that some may have would be the aspect of the Hesperus WE’s highs that I’ve been talking about in this entire “Treble” section. This set will simply be a bit too illuminated for some people. I truly feel that ODA did a great job of adding some crisp and heightened resolution up top, and they did so using a bit more emphasis in this region. I happen to enjoy the treble for what it is, but I know that there will be those who don’t enjoy it as much. On the right track the Hesperus WE’s treble can get a hair hot, and it really isn’t the most natural sounding treble display that I’ve ever heard. Yet it is exciting, and it adds a nice touch of air across the mix as well as some good and solid macro-dynamic expression to the sound as well. Furthermore, extension is very nice into the upper treble which does seem to extend the stage a bit. Overall, very nice, yet I would not be surprised to hear of others who aren’t as pleased. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage

Looking at the sound field of the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition, I find it to be a more intimate affair. Many people may interpret that as me saying that the soundstage is small. Well, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Actually, I find that the soundstage is certainly above the average with solid depth for layering and some great dimensionality as well. Now, the height is about what I’d call average, and the width is probably just above average as well. I certainly wouldn’t say it’s stadium-like, or over-the-top grand in size. These are iems after all. However, what I enjoy is how well spaced elements of the stage are and how nicely layered those elements are as well. There is definitely a depth to the field. So, while the stage sounds more intimate, closer to the listener, it is still very-very full sounding. It’s simply big. It fills up my entire head space. I really-really enjoy these types of layouts. I like a more intimate midrange which encloses the music towards the listener. Yet that sound stretches wide and seems to give room for some psycho-acoustically rendered depth. One thing is clear, I never-ever hear anything congested with this set. As musical as it is, I never hear a blended sound. It’s always nicely laid out in a very full way. 

Separation / Imaging 

Both instrument separation and imaging are fantastic on this set. Really fantastic folks. Like I said many times before, the Hesperus WE has this leaner sounding musicality and smooth cadence but the technical capacity of these iems is truly awesome. It takes finding the right tips, picking your genres, and letting brain-burn settle in, but when those caveats are met you will hear a fine replaying of the spectrum in a very mature way. Instrument separation is clinical in its precision, and the Hesperus WE’s imaging capabilities are outstanding. You have a very clean sound, fast transients, it’s very airy and open, highly resolute, very well contoured notes, and great depth of field. It’s the perfect recipe for a nice technical sound. I mean, every single last instrument is right where it needs to be every time, never moving, nothing floating around in my headspace while vocals are dead center (depending on the track). I mean, this set has that analytical/clinical ability without coming across truly analytical in tone and timbre. It’s a neat thing to hear at $359. Very nice instrument separation, great imaging, and the Hesperus WE offers a multi-layered experience with its solid depth of field. 

Detail Retrieval 

Just as I said the separation & imaging are fantastic, so is the detail retrieval. Perhaps I didn’t say enough about this aspect of the Hesperus WE’s tuning in the meat of my review, but I am now. I can pick up every last micro-detail without much issue. Maybe at times the bass will mask some of the subtleties, but those moments are few and far in between. Really, for the same reasons that the Hesperus WE has wonderful instrument separation and imaging are also the same reasons that it can bring almost all details into focus. I think the Hesperus WE’s greatest strength is its technical skills whilst also sounding melodic, never dry, and always musically astute. Like I said early in the sound portion of this review, the Hesperus WE has a 60/40 analytical/musical split and I stand by that. The further away from each other those numbers go, the less moistened, dense, and fluid the sound will be. ODA did a fine job here folks. 

Final thoughts on the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition 

Friends, before this review period I had never heard of the brand ODA. They weren’t in my radar at all. I had a huge notion prior to receiving this set that I wouldn’t review this one. I only review what I enjoy or that which a large portion of hobbyists may enjoy. However, even at 1st listen I knew I couldn’t pass this set up. It was too clean, too energetic, and such a nice mix of analytical ability and musicality. It was and still is a no brainer. Usually this is where I’d bring up the competition, and this is where I’d put a bunch of reviews from other comparable sets. However, this iem is so unique folks. I don’t have any other iems in my collection which sound exactly like it. It’s fun, yet not in a guilty pleasure type of way. The bass is boosted, but not to the stars. The mids are forward and intimate, but not too close for comfort. Also, the treble is sprightly and sparkly, and I don’t find them offensive to my ears. It’s all how each 3rd of the mix comes together to form this very fun and very mature sound. I’ve enjoyed this set with most every genre as it rises to the occasion for so many of them and I find myself liking the Hesperus WE more and more everyday. Something about that balanced armature bass coming across so dense. Or the vocals sounding so silky yet also so vivid. The mids are so engaging. Or maybe it’s that tinsley and sparkly treble glittering on the top end with such a nicely controlled vivacity. Folks, I’m not kidding when I say that I really didn’t think this one was going to make it to publishing. Boy was I wrong. 

I told you…

I’ll say this for the hundredth time; make darn sure that this tuning fits your preferences. I was serious when I said that the Hesperus WE have a borderline polarizing sound. I know a huge sect of people who will not enjoy what ODA has created here. You have to be okay with some brighter inflections folks. If you cannot handle those or you think that any set with a bright treble is garbage, then don’t buy it. There are plenty of other iems out there that will fit perfectly to your very particular subjective likes and dislikes. That said, the Hesperus WE will certainly have those who will praise this set up and down. 

What about the cost? 

Now, I can see why some folks would frown at the cost. I get that. $359 can get you many solid sets. I wouldn’t argue with that at all. Shoot, for less money you can get one of my favorite all balanced armature iems on the market in the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (Orchestra Lite Review). There’s the KZ Sonata as well (Sonata Review), and a bunch of others which don’t cost as much, have more drivers, and they are sets which are truly price to performance baddies. However, I really do feel that we should perhaps stop looking at driver count, driver tech, materials, and brand names, and start looking at these iems for what they are and what they can do, regardless of driver count. I told you earlier that many folks messaged me about the cost, and how ODA could sell this set for so much. Well friends, let me remind each of you; you get what you pay for. This set is of high quality. From the build to the design, to the packaging, it has a premium feel. I could easily make an argument as to why the Hesperus WE are too highly priced. However, I have a much easier time explaining why $359 isn’t too expensive at all… after hearing this set. 

The Why… 

Because the accessories provided from One Dot Audio all make sense for the set that I’m reviewing. The tips all work nicely, the cable is fantastic, the carrying case is of high quality. Next, the build is absolutely stellar. Friends, the stabilized wood on this set is truly wonderful. Every corner, every joint, every curve of this set is honed to perfection. Like I said earlier; this set reminds me of the stabilized wood on the Shanling MG600, which speaks volumes. To add to that, the design is so gorgeous, my word! Look at this beauty. No two are perfectly the same folks. Every design follows the beautiful natural grain that each piece of wood exhibits. I adore the look. Also like I said earlier; I don’t even typically like these colors, but somehow they are stunning on this set. I wouldn’t change a thing. The Hesperus WE are very comfortable, very lightweight, never physically fatiguing, and the Hesperus WE look pretty dope out and about in the market. Trust me on that. Still, we all know that the true worth of anything in audio revolves around how well it replays our music. 

That Sound 

I told you all, the Hesperus WE does not have my favorite tuning. I like all signatures and can adapt to enjoy all signatures, but I usually will have a harder time on a set which is this technically gifted, less rich, more treble focused than I typically enjoy, and simply less lush and warm-musical. However, it’s how ODA blended each 3rd of the mix to sound so cohesive, so energetic, yet also so composed, so well controlled, and so very tuneful. The dynamic expression of all three areas of the mix, that is the bass, the mids, and the treble all have some nice dynamism, and each collide to produce some vivid macro-dynamics. Yet the note control is so nice folks. Usually, a more rambunctious tuning will have that grainy texture, the splashiness, and usually energetic all-BA sets will have much more metallic timbre too. Usually, an all-BA set won’t have that dense bass, the nice haptic feel to the sublevels, or the hearty slam. Oh, and those vocals are very nice too. Add to that the Hesperus WE’s technical ability and you have yourself one very fine sounding iem. The caveat is that you have to enjoy this type of tuning. I can tell you that if it sounds like it is up your alley… then this set is a rec from me. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature of the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition, I first want to thank the very nice people of One Dot Audio. The person whom I dealt with during this process was and is very kind. Thank you, Jason. He asked nothing from me at all folks. Didn’t ask when my review was being published, didn’t ask me what even thought of the sound. This is a new brand folks! They are putting themselves out there with every single last review sample that they give out, and they are leaving their products in the hands of subjective reviewers. Granted, I won’t review anything that I don’t like (which should give brands some relief), but still, even things that I enjoy I criticize at times. I just want to give kudos to ODA for having the guts to hand out their precious products and living with the results. Also, thank you very much for sending them my way. I also need to thank you, the reader, for trusting my review that I will always tell you exactly what I hear every time I speak a word. But really, and more importantly, thank you for trusting mobileaudiophile.com. It means the world to us every single last time you click the link to our website. Thank you. 

Other Perspectives 

Now that you’ve read my review (or lightly glossed over it), I implore you to check out other thoughts. It is of the utmost importance that you take the time to read, watch, or listen to someone else’s thoughts on this set. Especially this set. I really feel that others may have a different perspective. We have such a diverse hobby folks. I feel it’s the most subjective on planet earth. Name me another more subjective hobby. Let me know when you figure one out that isn’t wine tasting. It’s the most subjective and each human can be radically different. Not just with our likes and dislikes, but with our ability to even hear the same things. I cannot stress this enough to you all. Believe me… it is something that many people forget. We are different folks. We hear differently, we have different gear, different sources, different music libraries, and we’ve all been down different journeys through audio. That makes a huge difference in how we hear what we hear. So please take the time, do your homework, and find what works best for you. That is the end goal for me. I want to envision your eyes closed and melting into your music. Beyond that, I hope this review has helped in some capacity. Anyway, I’m done friends. So, take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!!