SeekHifi S2 Review 

Intro 

Hello, this review and feature covers the latest from the very new audio brand SeekHifi named the SeekHifi S2 ($129). The S2 is actually a three-driver hybrid iem consisting of one dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers. Certainly not a new or unique setup, but a fantastic setup when tuned well. A time-tested setup to be perfectly honest with you. It’s good to go back to what works, and a three-driver DD & dual-BA setup will always have the potential to be awesome. Now, I’ve actually had the S2 in my possession for roughly about three weeks. I’ve taken the S2 everywhere with me and I feel as though I have a very good grasp on its sound quality, its quirks, and I can tell you straight-up that there’s no way I could pass up reviewing this set. Obviously, it appears that SeekHifi isn’t here just to collect a buck, but instead is here to make their own impact on the market and they are definitely… here to stay.

 S2

So, I won’t babble on too much more in this intro, but I have to make a comment before I jump into this review about some of the other highly qualified iems within the price point of the S2. Friends, there is an actual sea of iems. The last few years we’ve seen some of the best price to performance iems hit the market and in my opinion, I feel that the $100 to $150 range is arguably the most hotly contested range in all of audio. There is no question that the S2 is a solid set. However, can it unseat some of these other sets fighting for your dollar? I suppose I am going to have to find out. Of course, everything that I write is my opinion. So definitely keep that in mind. However, I will do my best to explain the sound as best I can. With that, I’m ready to get into this review folks. So, without further ado, the SeekHifi S2… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–SeekHifi 

–Amazon

S2 Pros

-P2P (price to performance) 

-Build Quality is nice 

-Definitely a slick looking aesthetic

-For me, the comfort of the S2 in line with some of the best in the price point

-Unboxing is good for $129, fits the price tag

-Comes with a DSP type-c cable

-Balanced bass focused sound, highly musical, engaging 

-Timbre is organic-ish, realistic

-Transients are generally more rapid, tight

-Deeply extended bass, punchy, hits hard, hits relatively fast

-Midrange displays vocals very well, no glare, nothing offensive

-Non-fatiguing treble with solid upper treble extension 

-Nice details per its musicality-first sound

S2 Cons

-Only one cable option (type-c DSP). This set deserves a good 4.4 balanced cable

-Burn-in the S2, it’s worth it

-Fans of a reference/flat neutral tuning may not enjoy the warmer sound

-Not everyone enjoys a bigger bass presence (14-15 db’s)

-Treble is fairly safe possibly lacking some brilliance, energy, and sparkle for some

-all technicalities (details, separation, Imaging, stage) are solid for the tuning, but the S2 is certainly not a “technical beast” (I like it the way it is) 

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

I will be pretty quick with this explanation of the unboxing as I don’t want to completely ruin the moment for you. However, the S2 arrived at my home in a fairly large box. The box comes with a black sleeve covering and “SeekHifi” right in the center. Take off the sleeve and you’ll see the exact same design of a black box with “SeekHifi” in the center with white lettering. I can respect a simple design folks. Anyways, open the box and you’ll see the parchment paper protecting the contents. Remove that and you’ll uncover the S2 earphones sitting in foam cut-outs as well as the carrying case also sitting in foam cut-outs. Okay, last detail, it’s a cool one. So underneath the foam layer that the S2 are sitting in you will find a secret compartment which hides a very nice plastic box/tray which holds the eartips. Lastly, the type-c DSP cable is also hiding in the carrying case. Okay, well, now that I’ve given everything away there is nothing left to hide. Friends, I am sorry. Lol. However, SeekHifi puts together a nice package. Not bad at all. 

Eartips

This brings us to the accessories provided with the SeekHifi S2. The first accessory that I’ll talk about is the eartips provided in the packaging with the S2. Real quick, you can purchase the eartips separately HERE for $9.90. So, SeekHifi added a total of six pairs of eartips in total over two different styles of tips and they put those tips in a nice plastic case. Classy. Both styles are silicone and both are fairly similar in build and flange rigidity. So, the first set of three eartips (S, M, L) are a dark gray tip with a yellow stem, semi-wide bore, decently firm in the flange and a pretty rigid stem. The next style of eartips is also made of silicone. You get three pairs (S, M L) of dark gray tips with an orange stem. Once again, this style also comes with a semi-wide bore, same firmness of the flange, also a rigid stem and once again these too are nice eartips. Honestly, both eartips fit me fine and they both seal well. In fact, I could use either style of eartips and be perfectly happy. Having said that, I went with the large size of the dark gray & orange stem eartips. In my opinion, both styles are very similar to KBear 07 tips. Both in size, rigidity, and bore-size. I find it neat that I didn’t have to tip roll which shows that SeekHifi knows that eartips are important and so they provide relevant eartips to the packaging. 

Carrying Case

The carrying case that comes with the S2 is a nice looking fully leather blue case. You can actually purchase the case separately HERE for $19. The case is not the largest I’ve ever used, but it is a large enough size to fit the S2 iems as well as the cable. However, the case is a very classy, very nice case with a top flap that stays shut using a magnet. Really a very nice carrying case. Perfect for tossing into a bag and even stuffing in the front pocket of your jeans. You see, I almost never use carrying cases which come equipped with any iem that I review. The reason being is that if they aren’t small enough to fit in my front pocket, or, if they aren’t large enough to put multiple iems to throw in a bag, then they are of no use to me. It has to be either way. Either small, or very large. I know that none of you care about any of this, but I’ve used this case every single day. Front pocket worthy. At any rate, it’s a nice inclusion and one that I don’t “expect” at this cost. 

Cable

Okay friends, this brings us to the last and final accessory, that is, the cable. So, the cable provided is not anything which terminates in 3.5 or 4.4. No sir, SeekHifi instead opted to provide a type-c DSP cable. It’s actually a dope looking cable, and it pairs very well aesthetically with the S2. As for the materials used, SeekHifi decided upon a dual-strand silver-plated copper cable and once again it terminates in a type-c termination. Inside of that type-c fitting is where some of the magic happens, especially for ultimate portability. So, the type-c housing has an integrated DSP chip and amplifier. Just plug the cable into your phone and you are good to go. The DSP chip is not known at this time. At least not that I could find. Also, the cable has a one button inline remote and microphone which can give you play, pause, next track, previous track, answer, and hang up calls. Again, very nice to have for perfect portability. The cable also has a 0.78 2-pin connector and is a nicely braided gray coloring which pairs perfectly with the S2 aesthetically. Not bad at all. 

How does the DSP cable sound? 

Now, I don’t think that the DSP cable sounds bad. Not even in the slightest. I think it’s a quality piece of gear to use when you are in a portable situation. This cable is very convenient. Let’s just say that. Of course, now that I’ve said that I have to be honest with you all… the DSP cable does not bring out the best in this set. Again, great for simple casual listening, great for out and about listening, and great for an easy audio session. However, I most certainly feel that using a 4.4 balanced cable brings out the best in this set when paired with a synergistic source. I don’t want to steer you wrong though. The S2 does sound vibrant, very fun, strong bass, and a sparkly treble using the DSP cable. So, it’s a nice addition. Though I really hoped that a 4.4 balanced cable (at least) was also added to the packaging. Thankfully I have a mountain of 4.4 cables ready to go. 

What did I use? 

So, I went through every single cable that I have sitting around and folks, I found the one. I’m telling you; I spent hours going through cables (it’s actually quite fun) and I came up with the KBear Chord 4.4 balanced cable as the best pairing that I’ve found. It is a budget cable, about $25 to $30. Anyways, something about how the graphene of the Chord cable interacts with the tonality of the S2 is simply wonderful. Folks, I used many more expensive cables too. I should add that no cable necessarily sounds bad. I don’t think that the S2 could sound bad, it’s a very well-tuned set. It’s just that… the Chord cable clearly sounded the best. By the way, I think everyone should go out and buy that cable, just to have it. It is one of my favorite budget cables on the market. There will be a day when you are searching out the perfect cable, and the Chord will be that perfect pairing. Trust me on that. Write that down. Lol. At any rate, the S2 is such a quality set that most any cable does well. I feel that it’s a lot more important to have a quality source and some good clean power. 

Build / Aesthetic / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

So, the build quality of the SeekHifi S2 is pretty nice. I wouldn’t say that it’s going to change your life, or even make your day, but it’s nice. The S2 is shaped like a traditional iem, but it’s adorned well. It’s a dope looking set (more on that later). Now, the S2’s shells, or housing, is made entirely of 3D printed resin. I actually really like this style of resin. It’s the matte feeling resin. If that makes sense. Very much similar to those HeyGears builds. That soft and matte resin which feels very smooth to the touch. It’s cool. Also, it’s very durable to the touch as well. It doesn’t feel cheap, let’s just say it like that. However, the faceplates are topped with a very nice aviation-grade aluminum. Obviously very durable, corrosion resistant, and very lightweight as well. All bonuses, and also… well thought out too. The nozzles are medium, or average length, about standard width too at roughly 6mm. I see one cent near the 2-pin cable which acts as a pressure relief vent as well as helps in the tuning of the S2. It’s a nice enough build for $129. Also, it’s a very nice build for a first try. Nice work SeekHifi. 

Aesthetic 

As far as the aesthetic, I am definitely liking what I’m seeing. I think this set is pretty cool aesthetically. The S2 is crafted in a very artsy, modern, and classy manner with polygonal lines that form different sides as well as three curved lines right down the center. I don’t know if those are supposed to represent anything, but they look cool. I think the gray/silver aluminum faceplates with the polygonal sides looks slick. In fact, the design is kinda reminiscent of the Dunu Kima series. It’s a look that you cannot go wrong with. I don’t know if I’d say they look like wearable art, but the S2 is certainly a handsome set. Again, nice work SeekHifi. Really, an attractive first set. 

Internals

I said in the opening of this review that the idea of a three-driver hybrid consisting of one dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers is not a new thing. We see three-driver hybrid sets as low as $35. However, not all are created equal, that’s for sure. The truth is, the 1DD+2BA mix is a time-tested configuration and can sound flat-out awesome when those drivers, crossover, and acoustic cavity are implemented well. No doubt about it, the S2 uses quality drivers that come together in a homogenized manner creating a very cohesive and undistorted sound. So, the dynamic driver is actually a 10mm driver which uses a composite diaphragm and handles all of the low-end frequencies. The midrange is tackled by a custom balanced armature driver and so is the treble region. I have zero idea what make or model the BA’s are either. I just know they sound good. Furthermore, SeekHifi opted for a three-way crossover as well so that they could properly partition off each driver’s frequency range. The result is a very well done overall tuning. 

Fit / Comfort 

This brings us to the fit and comfort that I have experienced wearing the SeekHifi S2. Honestly folks, I feel that the S2 is such a common shell design using a decades old shape that simply works. Really, they give me a perfect fit. On top of that, the S2 is not even remotely close to being or feeling heavy. This set is very lightweight which helps tremendously in how long one can comfortably listen to music. There have been plenty of sessions which have run over the four-to-five-hour mark. It happens more than I like to admit. Anyways, the S2 are a very ergonomically friendly set. Now, I of course cannot explain to you how the S2 is going to fit your ears. I can speculate that most people will probably love how comfortable this set is, but that is just speculation. So, take my words with a grain of salt. Still, very lightweight and comfortable. 

Drivability / Pairings 

Sensitivity 

SeekHifi made darn sure to craft and create the S2 in such a way that you could listen to them on just about any device, regardless of source power. The S2 has an impedance rating of right around 26 ohms as well as a sensitivity of about 109 db’s. Basically, you can drive this set on just about any device. Every review I conduct I always make sure to test every set with my weakest sources. I used an old Android smartphone, the KZ AN01 Bluetooth adapters, three weak 3.5 set Conexant dongle dacs, as well as my iPad. Also, I obviously used the DSP cable that comes with the S2 as well. I can tell you that every weak source I used sounded just fine with this set. If all you have is a simple smartphone, I feel that you will get good sound out of the S2. You’ll get plenty of dynamics, tonal contrast, clean lines, decent stage presence. Now, please don’t confuse me because I most certainly feel that a stronger, cleaner, and better source will create a much better sonic experience. As nice as it is to have a sensitive set that plays well off of weaker sources, it’s even better to have a set that can scale well with more juice. 

Power

The SeekHifi S2 is like 99% of sets which come across my desk in that they do sound better with more power and better sources. You’d think this was a given, or self-explanatory, but not everyone has the option to use sources with more juice to them. At any rate, the S2 does get marginally better with a bit more power. I’m not talking vast amounts either. You don’t need a thousand-watt desktop setup. Really, just try to get your hands on a good dongle dac, at the least. Like most sets. Find a good dongle dac with some solid power and a good quality dac chip and I’ll bet you’ll have some very clean and high-quality sound sessions using the S2. 

Source Pairing 

Naturally this brings us to source pairing, or tonal pairing. So, to my ears the SeekHifi S2 definitely sounds warm/neutral (the tonal sweet spot) yet with a very energetic and dynamically expressive sound. One thing I find is that a warm/neutral tonality usually mixes and pairs best with the largest number of source devices. Folks, I have used almost every device that I have with this set and I have yet to find one that sounds bad. I never talk about it, but I have a lot of source devices. I say that not to pat myself on the back, but rather to inform the reader that I really don’t feel that you need to worry about a chameleon like the S2. Whatever you have as a source device will likely pair well with this set. Now, I definitely do have my favorite devices to pair the S2 with. Like, the slightly warmer Shanling UA7, the Shanling M6 Ultra, the Hiby R6 Pro II 2025, the Fiio Q15. Of course, there were plenty of others which sound awesome too. Like the more neutral iBasso DX240, or the Shanling UA6. Of course, I could keep going because every source I played the S2 on came across great. I feel that the S2 almost adapts to the source, in a sense. So at the end of the day I’d really be more concerned about making sure that you have a source with decent output power to open up these drivers, tighten the bass, settle the upper mids, and add some spatiality to the sound. However, I have a nagging suspicion that whatever you have, weak or powerful… will sound fine. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I dive headfirst into the sound of the S2, I first want to add a few things to the equation. First off, I did perform a burn-in of the S2. I gave it about three full days playing white noise, pink noise, tonal sweeps, and certain melodies made specifically for burn-in, or run-in. I do feel this helps. Next, I listen mainly with flac or better files (some mp3) which are stored on my devices. The Android music player of my choosing is usually UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro), Hiby Music Player, and the native music player for some of my non-Android DAPs. I used stock eartips and I mainly used a 4.4 balanced KBear Chord graphene cable for all of my critical listening. 

What’s it sound like? 

The first thing I’d say about the SeekHifi S2’s sonic characteristics is that it is a musicality-first set that’s very fun, warmly rendered, and a moderately energized listen when its dynamics are stretched. Certainly it carries a quality performance at $129. Musically gifted, with an earthy and timbre-correct sound helps the S2 to play multiple genres very well. Sure the S2 is a melodic option, but it also carries some decent enough technical abilities as well. Never do I feel that the S2 sounds congested, narrow, too blunted, or too smoothened. Lately I’ve reviewed a few sets which split musicality and analytical skills pretty well and the S2 is no exception at all. To my ears and using my best judgment I’d say that the S2 has a musical/analytical split of about 65/35%. Also, to my ears I’d say that the S2 leans closer to a U-shaped sound signature as the midrange is not really recessed at all. Certainly more forward & intimate, but also very full and immersive. Almost forward to the point that I’d call it a W-shaped signature with a bass lift and a semi sparkly treble. Folks, this set has one of the better balanced/fun tunings that I’ve heard in a while. Please hear me now. If you enjoy something fairly energized, nice tonal contrast, with a homogenized cohesion between frequencies and drivers, I’d really hope that you’d stick around and keep reading because the S2 embodies these words that I’m writing. Sure it has some hiccups, what doesn’t? I have heard many-many kilo-buck offerings with many issues and subjective quirks. No doubt the S2 has a few (which I’ll speak about in all the “downsides” sections) but for the most part the S2 is shaping up to be one of the better buys under $150 “if” you enjoy good organic timbre and something that will get your feet moving.

Timbre

Now, when speaking of the timbre I’d say that the SeekHifi S2 comes across as a version of a natural sound. Maybe call it “organic-ish”. The actual tonal inflections of each note sit squarely in that natural space with notes which have an overall warm/neutral sound. Perhaps warmer than neutral which obviously comes from the bass region’s presence. This added layer of warmth gives most notes a richer body which is close to realistic to my ears. I found a few things pretty awesome about the timbre. First off, the transient response is certainly more rapid than most fun & bassy sets, especially outside of the bass region. I should repeat that; the transient response is fairly rapid for a fun and bassy set. Not that the bass is slow either (more on that later). However, every attack is exact, some snap, some vivacity, and some tackiness coming across pretty precise for a smoother sound. Then, every decay is a tad too quick for me to call it “natural”. Just a touch quicker, which I happen to really like. Very-very close to perfectly organic, which is satisfying to the ear. Also, I don’t hear any BA timbre. Let me back up, I told you in the notes above that this set should be burned-in, and I mean it. I say that because I did hear an ever-so-slight metallic sheen right out-of-the-box, but that literally was gone after some burn-in. Anyways, there’s nothing artificial on this set folks. The balance of frequencies is solid with a lifted bass but also a lifted treble region creating a solid contrast. Timbre is close to natural with an energetic but warm quality, some life, some verve, or liveliness. Also, to my ears I hear a solid balance between a smooth note delivery and crisp edge detail. 

Technically Inclined?  

So far, I’ve said (in a nutshell) that the S2 is organic-ish, bass is boosted, midrange isn’t what I’d refer to as recessed, and the treble has some sparkle. I’ve also told you that the transients are pretty tight along with a more organic style timbre and a nice richness to every note. I just want to add that the technical ability of the S2 is also pretty nice too. I’m talking about solid sound separation without much masking happening on a regular basis (apart from heavy bass tracks) and fairly clean lines which do a decent job of separating each note. I find that detail retrieval is generally pretty nice as well. Above average for this style of tuning. On top of that, the sound is pretty immersive whilst also carrying better macro-dynamics than I would’ve guessed. Again, I’d say the musical/analytical split is right at 65/35, give or take a few db’s either way. To me the stage is average sized, moderate airiness, has some depth, but is definitely more immersive and engaging than it is holographic and stadium-like. All things considered… this set is a very well-tuned and fun iem which will greatly intrigue the timbre and tonality lovers who desire a deep, impactful, and tight bass response. However, don’t be surprised when you are noticing some of the subtle details as well. Let’s check out each 3rd of the mix… 

*Note: The only graph that I could find of the SeekHifi S2 was off of Akros’s YouTube Review. I took a screenshot of that graph. Thank you Akros (Antonio)! Visit Akros YouTube channel HERE.

Bass Region 

I can tell you right now that the SeekHifi S2 has one of the more fun, organically toned, and one of the more gratifying bass replays that I’ve heard anywhere under $200. Yes, I said that. The bass is a very deep, sub-bass oriented, yet without losing any weight or robustness in the mid-bass. Notes are round, they’re full-bodied, and they come with such a punchy dark vibrance. Now, the bass comes in with a bass shelf which caps out at about 14-15 db’s and it’s contrasted against a relatively lifted upper mids and treble which balances the mix quite well. With that thought in mind, I wouldn’t call this set a basshead set. While the bass is large, weighted, and somewhat bulbous, it isn’t overtly saturated, and it doesn’t cause veil across the mix. Something which surprised me. To add to that, the bass doesn’t bleed into the midrange in a detrimental manner, at all. Everything remains controlled, very clean for a larger bass. Perhaps not the most perfectly resolved and snappy but resolving for its quantity. That last tidbit is very important. “Resolving for its quantity”. Not all big bass sets are created equal folks, and many of them will enforce their will spectrum-wide creating an overly smoothened, overly warmed, and overly blended sound. Friends, the S2 is anything but that. This set is very highly resolved for its signature and for being such a fun sound. I say all of that because the bass plays a major part in the overall cleanliness of this musical set. 

Grip

Furthermore, the bass does have some texture too. The more robust a bass gets, the more bulbous, bullish and emphasized a bass gets can also steal some of that surface texture. I suppose what I like about most bass lines on this set is that it has some grip. That stop & go fast recovery style delivery yet in a richer form. To be perfectly honest, there are other sets in the price point which can replicate this just as well as the S2. So, I don’t want you thinking that the S2 is going to be on an island alone with its abilities. There are plenty of solid bass enhanced iems under $200. I feel that the quality which may begin to separate the S2 is how the rest of the mix sounds in relation to that enhanced bass presence. Also, in how the bass resolves those subtle textures that I was talking about. It all adds to the experience. Like I said, you have to enjoy this type of sound. No doubt the tuning may draw some boos from the cheap seats. That said, I’d like to think that there are far more folks who will dig this sound. 

Sub-Bass 

Like I said earlier, the sublevels of the low-end have a very deep and hearty extension into the dark bass abyss with a growling and haptic style replay when a track calls for it. The beauty of this sublevel response is that it mostly keeps to itself and doesn’t impact the sound negatively when it isn’t called upon. It doesn’t really blend with the mid-bass causing a muddy atmosphere as there is a fairly nice distinction between ranges. The sub-bass has that earthy rumble, that darkly toned pitch and vibrational tactile feel. I have hundreds of “Bass Playlist” tracks which show this off, but I’ll refer to one I always use for reviews with the track “Paradigm” by The Head and The Heart. This track begins out the gate with a very foundational, deep, and grungy wave-style synth bassline which shimmers with edginess. The S2 responds to it like a champ. So textured, so guttural, ethereal even, and so darn clean for the emphasis. To add to that, the lead singer’s voice never sounds masked and comes through crystal clear as the melody plays on, unphased. Another would be “Got Your Back” by Washed Out. Folks, I literally love the bass of this track through the S2. Every note is rounded, very clean note outlines, nothing fuzzy at all, nothing grainy, just clean and punchy. Also, the punch is that hard and bullish style that comes through so satisfying on this set. Of course, you have to be the type who enjoys this style. The point is that the sublevels are very nicely done for a fun sound. 

Mid-Bass

As far as the mid-bass it is really more of the same folks. I will echo what I said in the sub-bass section by saying that the mid-bass is also very tight for its quantity. You can tell a slow, beefy, atmospheric bass right away, and you can tell a fast, less emphasized, but also snappy bass right away too. It’s less common to hear a beefy and full-bodied bass which stays relatively tight per its size and emphasis. Of course, I don’t want to oversell this bass either. No question there are better defined low-end’s, more clinical, better detailed, and more rapid style low-ends from other sets. I feel I have to say that. The mid-bass to me represents some of the more rounded and vibrant punch-filled and impactful bass displays whilst also being able to play back some pretty complicated tracks with relative ease. That’s saying a lot of folks. For $129… it sure is saying a lot! 

Mid-Bass cont… 

Tracks like “Take on Me” by Weezer shows off how well contoured this bass is as the song begins with many successive big kick drums. You can easily tell edge detail, cleanliness, if it sounds pillowy or wooly, and you can tell how well distinct the note outline is along with how full the sound comes across. Hence why I like this track. On the S2 the kick drum has a tacky and snappy attack followed by a fully formed and swollen boom. Over and over again. I can hear that the decay is faster than other bigger bass sets rather easily. Yet this is just one track of many. Like “Kids with Guns” by the Gorillaz. Ooh, that electric bass guitar sounds so vibrant and cleanly rendered. The S2 comes across with cement-like rigidity, densely weighted, and harmonically savvy. Every string pluck is captured with just enough edge and bite igniting that full-bodied weight following. I suppose I should also add that the bass doesn’t bleed into the mids in a detrimental way, but more of a body boosting way. Nicely measured. That said, the bass is great friends, SeekHifi did a great job for the style and type of tuning. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

From my perspective, all of the S2’s supposed “faults” to some people will also be some of its best strengths. It’s one of those sets where you either enjoy how it was tuned, or you don’t. One thing you can say for sure is that the S2 is anything but boring. However, you me better than that. I will always give my thoughts on some issues that some people, or myself may have. No set is perfect. Anyways, fans of a snappier style bass, a more rapid punch style, less emphasized and better-defined bass will probably want to pass on this one. Like I said, the S2 has around a 14-15 dB shelf. That’s getting up into the bass-boi territory. Nevertheless, I know so many people who would much rather have that leaner bass, cleaner bass, and faster bass. Again, the S2 is fast for the size, but it won’t outduel some of the more rapid sets. Think of a good planar, a solid balanced armature, or even quicker dynamic drivers which do have lightning-fast transients which aren’t overhauled with weight and body. They sound and feel quicker. The S2 won’t give you that. Like I said, for its quantity it’s great, it’s clean, and the S2 presents a very capable low-end which can tackle very difficult and complex bass passages. Still, you all know what I’m trying to get across; The bass may simply be too emphasized for some folks. I suppose I could’ve just said that. 

Midrange 

One of my favorite aspects of the SeekHifi S2 is its midrange. The S2 carries such a sweetly organic timbre across this midrange in such a melodic and smoothly rendered way that you almost miss how clean it is. The BA’s that SeekHifi used in the S2 have been tuned in such a way as to never come across metallic, artificial, and never abrasive. The texture to every note outline is smooth like porcelain rather than velvet and notes come across with a certain richness that gives vocals some authority and instruments some real good presence. One of the more rewarding aspects of the midrange as a whole is its uncanny ability to draw out emotion from a track. Every meandering melody and intonation seems to hit those inflections in such a way that helps lay the groundwork for emotion to be expressed. This is not uncommon, but still a cool trait. At any rate, if I were to call the midrange anything I’d first call this region “rhythmic”. It has a smooth flowing and fluid cadence yet with clean-lined notes and ever-so-slightly tighter-than-natural transients. As I said a couple times already, I hear a very nice mix of smooth and crisp that’s both liquid in its flow and fairly well defined, with relatively clean note contours for the cost. For $129 you could do a whole lot worse. Especially for a musicality-first iem. 

Quality midrange timbre

Just as I said earlier, the timbre is slightly warmed, but organic-ish, with a forward anterior feel to its presence and never sounding recessed or distant. I think one of the S2’s midrange qualities which grab me is that these notes carry a certain density and clarity at the same time. Great for the cost and great for anyone who values a set which can sound both realistic and fun at the same time. Sure, it has some midrange color, as the warmth comes from somewhere, but there’s such a realistic inflection and tone. Like, the hammer strike on a piano, or the silvery nature of a violin, the timbre doesn’t over emphasize any tonal aspect, but instead gives those sounds body and an appropriate level of shimmer, rigidity, edge or toned-down vibrance. Having said that, I could be ridiculously critical and tell you that some instruments actually could use some more air and some sparkle on the S2. I could say that not all instruments, or voices for that matter thrive in a warmer climate tonally. However, I also just said that that would be ridiculous. SeekHifi did a nice job on this set, and the midrange is a testament to that for the cost. Right up there with any of the quality organic timbre and midrange forward sets under $200.

Lower-Midrange 

The lower midrange of the SeekHifi S2 is one which benefits greatly from the slight overcast bleed into the mids giving male vocalists and certain instruments a boost in authoritative fullness. To a degree anyways. I like to say that SeekHifi let the bass shelf gradually decline in a very measured and well-planned way. Because the bass comes across punchier and more controlled it helps the mids sound tone colored rather than smeared. If that makes sense. The aspect of this range that I like the most is that males always seem to sound bold, with nice presence, and some tonal contrast, without sounding too sanded-down or too smooth. Not recessed, but not too forward, not thin but also not too lush. It’s a very fine line SeekHifi managed to walk to provide most males with the chesty and robust body along with some pointed and acute bite. Notes have a smooth and honeyed style delivery, but the tuning keeps the crisp edges giving each note some dimension, a touch of clarity. There’s a lot to like for the price of $129. For me, it’s the male vocals. Like David Draimen of Disturbed in “The Sound of Silence”. Another track I use consistently in reviews. Anyways, the S2 replays David’s range well, reaching his deeper bassier moments effortlessly sounding guttural and gravelly while fulfilling his range sounding very harmonious when he jumps to higher registers. Of course, this theme plays out the same in most male lead tracks. Overall, the lower mids sound refined with solid enough clarity. 

Upper-Midrange 

The upper midrange sounds as though they take an even more forward approach. Something we are used to hearing. However, there’s something smart that SeekHifi did with this tuning to help females and instrumentation sound both shimmery enough and non-offensive. The S2 has a nice gradual uphill climb into the 9db pinna rise and then a quick decline after the peak, only to slowly rise again into the lower treble. One thing I can say for sure is that I have yet to become fatigued listening to this set. Females come across juicy, good note body too, but the upper-mids lean much more on clarity and presence giving female vocalists and instrumentation a nice light glow of luminance without ever sounding glaring or peaky. Lead instruments typically sound uplifted yet still are rendered smooth in cadence and still have plenty of vibrance to sound silvery when called upon. Actually, pretty realistic if you ask me. Transient behavior in this region is quicker, tidier, and micro-details are easier to discern with better resolution and more transparency. That said, the S2 still has zero issues presenting emotional moments in an organic way. Females like Olivia Rodrigo in “Driver’s License” is one such track that the S2 perfectly displays what she is going through whilst also really doing a nice job of sounding very flowery, with a soft and tuneful sound to her voice. She sounds forward and her voice comes across etched against the backdrop of the rest of the melody. Great presence. Females in general tend to sound great with this set. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

The biggest gripes with the midrange are simple subjective tonal gripes that some folks may have. I suppose I could also say that technically the S2 might not be exactly what analytical-heads are seeking out as well. I can tell you that the S2 is not what I’d call a high-resolution tuning. Thankfully. Still, there are plenty of people who much more want to chase details, and they seek out sets which are clarity rich as opposed to warmly rendered and organic. On the flip side, there will be those who will find the pinna rise as too aggressive. Stuff like guitars may jump forward a notch too forward or some vocal lines. However, I think the brunt of subjective quirks on this set will come from those who desire a more airy, open rather than intimate and less vast. The S2 features a midrange which comes across more tightly centered and solid whereas many folks may prefer a more diffuse and spread-out display of the midrange sound field. Again, this is me being ridiculously picky. In truth, I can’t imagine having any gripes with the S2 at $129. 

Treble Region 

Looking at the treble, in my opinion this range is similar to the midrange in that it is not rolled-off, it isn’t dark, and it’s not boring. However, it also has some sparkle, some illuminated glow, some brilliance. In the same breath, the treble could also be considered too safe, not vibrant enough, and not as exciting as some other popular sets. In my mind SeekHifi tuned this set to be a happy medium. I find it non-fatiguing for my ears, I can blast just about anything in my treble playlists, any genre, any track, any electric guitar blaring at high decibels without needing to turn the volume down, whilst also feeling satiated with the amount of crisp details, energy, and levity that the treble adds to the spectrum as a whole. Honestly this is a treble that should be enjoyed by a majority unless you are a treble head, avid treble lover, or if you simply enjoy a more rambunctious top end of the spectrum. 

Emphasis 

I can tell you that the lower treble, or presence region comes in very clean as well as very well controlled with adequate levels of luminance. Great for adding luster for certain textures, vocal intelligability, details for percussion, snares, etc. and really any leading edge within the region. What you won’t have is any sharp sting or any strident and raucous glare. I’m okay with that. The mid treble is slightly less enthused with an obvious roll off before the upper treble but still is enhanced enough to add some lift for vocalists and instrumentation. Now, I think what makes this set sound as good as it does have a lot to do with the mid-treble not being as boosted and bright. However, I still hear the sizzle of a cymbal, the sheen of strings, the snap of percussions. Those heightened shimmery details are not lost on this set and I think that’s the one thing I want to get across. Yes, it’s less enthused, maybe boring for some, but it’s a smart tuning. Lastly, SeekHifi had the presence of mind to begin another rise at 10k and really do a nice job of aiding the overall sound with decent enough extension into the upper air regions. Just enough actually. 

Extension 

I find that the extension into the upper air regions is boosted enough to bring some air and openness to the sound in a moderate way. Enough to illuminate some micro-details, the shimmer from the harmonics of a cymbal strike, and does so with a sense of sparkle. The S2’s upper treble is not rolled off. Let’s just get that straight. The sound as a whole does have an air about it without calling the tuning “airy” per say. Solid enough to aid the spectrum with space inducing openness adding decent-to-good note separation. Having said that, I definitely feel that the upper treble air has a cap to it. This will not appeal to those who greatly enjoy an airy presentation. As though the upper treble stops just short of radiance and can even smooth over a bit of the shimmery luster that some may really enjoy. However, I don’t want to gloss over the fact that the extension is well displayed on the S2. To some this upper treble tuning will be a very smart and measured tuning that was done in a very intelligent manner. While others will likely consider the treble extension not bright enough and less gratifying than what they typically jive with. It’s like anything in this hobby, what’s good for one probably won’t be good for another. 

Timbre

When talking about the treble timbre I will once again repeat myself by stating that the treble on the S2 is certainly more organic and smoothly rendered than anything else. I do hear some semblance of crispness which does give some contour and edge details. I don’t hear anything so smoothened-out that note contours are too polished down or less defined. Again, the leading edge to most notes has a clean enough resolve to present the finer things in my music like clarity of instrument attack, clean note outlines, whilst never sounding spiky or razor sharp. High percussive instruments never have that plasticky sound, nor are they metallic. Instead, the timbre leans correct, and even transparent. All in all, SeekHifi put together a nice supporting actor style treble which plays its part in a nicely technical way, but much more in a highly musical way. They made darn sure that the treble wasn’t going to derail the musicality of this set. Coincidentally, it’s usually the treble region which does just that. The nice thing is that the clarity isn’t derailed by the musicality either. Again, SeekHifi walked that fine line very well. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

I would say that the biggest gripe that this set will get is that it has a safe approach. It’s likely that this complaint will come from those folks who are either true-blue treble-head types, or from those who desire a brightly lit tuning. I say that because the treble is actually very well balanced with the rest of the mix. I do not feel that the treble is rolled-off at all. No way. It’s a very ineligible, very coherent, very clean sound but it is also very much a non-offensive sound. Awesome for listening to it for hours on-end. Having said that, this also happens to be its biggest downside. I’m sure you already know if the S2 sounds like it’s fit your preferences. There are other very minor gripes that some folks may have but I don’t want to glorify those gripes any more than I have to because I think too well of this tuning. Plus, being super picky and overly critical is tacky. Not too bright, but it has some brilliance. Not too analytical, but it has some decent micro-details. The S2 is not perfectly fine-lined and clean, but it aids the entire spectrum in resolution. At the end of the day, it’s really a nicely tuned iem. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage

So, in my opinion the soundstage is one which is decently wide, but it’s not the tallest, or deepest, and it won’t bring you stadium-like vibes. But it also is not even close to congested, it isn’t closed-in, and it does work very well for how the S2 was tuned. The sound field is certainly closer to the listener, more intimate, yet very immersive too. It’s one of those engaging style soundstage presentations which wraps you up rather than closes you in. If that makes any sense. Everything has its place, which helps. Also, there is adequate air and space for instruments to sound distinct, and the sound field as a whole never sounds cramped. It just works. However, I’m not going to sit here and say that the stage sounds like some chasmic and vast coliseum. It’s average to above average. Above average width, average height, decent depth of field too. Definitely not a 2D flat plane of sound, but not holographic either. That said, I definitely feel that the stage is good for the price. I simply don’t want to tell you something that it’s not. Overall, it’s nice and works for the tuning. 

Separation / Imaging

One of the nice abilities of the SeekHifi S2 is that it has some pretty nice instrument separation. Well, for a musically rich sound which leans warm and certainly has a more organic and earthy timbre I think that it is easy to spot the edge lines of notes and to notice the space between those notes. Unless you are a die-hard technical/analytical lover then I really don’t think that anyone is going to complain. Like I said many times, the S2 has good clarity. Sure, it’s warmer, but the resolution isn’t terrible. Notes are pretty concise and never sound blended or mashed-together. Also, Imaging is definitely a quality feature of the tuning. Of course, it won’t remind you of technical beast style sets. It’s not that. Warmer notes have a tenancy if not sounding as clean-lined and transparent in their clarity though the S2 bucks this trend to an extent. Though I’ll stick to what I said… not a technical beast, but clean enough to adequately feature elements within a sound field in a precise way. Let’s put it like this… the S2 will place instruments very well, just not at a top tier level. I should also add that the S2 does have some ability to layer the front to back sounds. Now, depth of field is not what I’d label as a “pro”, but the S2 definitely has some depth and enough control to provide a layered sound. Again, is it top tier for under $200? No, I don’t think it is. But also, what would SeekHifi have to do to make it a top tier set at this cost? I’m afraid they’d ruin what makes it special. 

Detail Retrieval 

Once again, another area where the SeekHifi S2 comes through better than the average $129 set but doesn’t sound like a top shelf detail monster. Remember, this set is musicality-first, melodic, rhythmic in nature, fluid, very smooth throughout, and notes come through semi-rich too rich in every area of the mix (bass, mids, treble). I think the reason that I’m as high on the S2 as I’ve been is because there are some nice moments of clear micro-detail illumination. The macro details are very easy to hear as the S2 has nice clarity. It’s the micro-dynamic minutiae that can sound less coherent at times. Especially on bass heavy tracks. Of course, for what this set is and for what it was made to be, I would really hate to ruin that clean fluidity for a few subtle details. This set is about listening to music folks. Not dissecting it. Granted, in less intensive tracks the S2 easily highlights all of the subtleties very well. Easily above average. SeekHifi did a fantastic job for the cost and I’ll die on that hill. Just like sound separation, Imaging, and layering, during bass heavy tracks there will be some masking of the minute and subtle details. Other than that the S2 does just fine. 

Last Words on the SeekHifi S2 

Well folks, I gotta say, the SeekHifi S2 really did surprise me. I’m not too easily surprised anymore but the S2 has something very special within its tuning. A very easy set to get absolutely lost in while soaking in my music. I mean, very easy! It doesn’t have those glaring and peaky moments to jolt me from my musical zen, as the whole of this tuning doesn’t offend. Also, in the beginning of this review, in the intro, I wondered how well the S2 would perform against other sets under $200. I don’t question that anymore. Of course, that was two weeks ago when I wrote this. Before I had a chance to go back-to-back with some of the best iems. Sets like the Simgot SuperMix4 (SuperMix4 Review), the Kefine Quatio (Quatio Review), the Letshuoer S12 2024 (S12 2024 Edition Review), Kiwi Ears Aether (Aether Review), Dunu Kima 2 (Kima 2 Review), the KZ Sonata (Sonata Review), QOA Cloud space (Cloudspace Review), Letshuoer S12 Ultra (S12 Ultra Review), Hidizs MK12 TE (MK12 TE Review), the Fiio FD15 (FD15 Review), Juzear Defiant (Defiant Review), the EPZ P50 (P50 Review), Kiwi Ears Airoso (Airoso Review) or the Hiby Yacht 10 (Yacht 10 Review) and many-many others. Please don’t get upset if I didn’t name your favorite in this range, this is all off of quick memory. Anyways, you get the point, there’s a ton of solid iems. However, the S2 quite literally stands its ground against them all folks. This newcomer brand came in, out the gate, and they crafted one of the better tuned sets in the price point. No hype. Sure, it will have some detractors, as with any set, but I feel that many more will greatly enjoy what SeekHifi has created in the S2. 

Detractors 

Now, who will be the detractors? So those folks who much more desire a strong treble centric performance or heavily complicate arrangements may feel a bit let down with the S2. Orchestral and large-scale Classical stuff would need a bit better separation at times. Perhaps even better depth of field. Granted, no genre sounds flat-out bad on this set. Let’s just get that out of the way. There are simply other sets which may fit certain genres better. Like, those audiophile style jazz joints, aggressive metal or punk as well. Not everyone wants a more musically inclined sound, and many folks prefer an even cleaner, clearer, more transparent sound that can resolve busy tracks and subtle details better. While the treble is great for what it is, it won’t tackle treble intensive fast paced tracks perfectly. Also, not everyone wants a bass heavy or bass focused sound. Some folks get fatigued with too much bass infusion. So, there will definitely be some detractors. 

Who will enjoy? 

Having said all of that, I find the S2 to almost be a solid all-rounder. I don’t feel that it suffers in any genre. It isn’t miserable in anything at all, and I feel that the great majority of hobbyists will actually enjoy this set. There are many genres that the S2 will actually thrive with. So, anyone who enjoys genres like Rock, definitely Classic Rock, lighter Metal, Alternative, Pop, Hip-hop, R&B, any EDM or House Music, the modern style smooth Jazz, Blues and a few more that I cannot bring to the forefront of my mind right now. The point is that the S2 is actually a very well-rounded set with a flair for fun, with a punchy style clean bass and a tuning which only slightly favors that bass. Again, this set has a nice balance, very well measured while remaining fun, and rhythmic. Once again, many more folks are going to love this set, and they will love it even more that it costs only $129. Friends, without question the S2 is worth every last penny. Certainly, a solid purchase. 

The Why… 

For all the reasons I’ve laid out in this review thus far. The S2 is built well, it’s comfortable, you can wear this set for hours, and the S2 is very lightweight. SeekHifi provides a nice unboxing, good presentation, nice accessories (it’d been nice to have a 4.4 balanced cable), a solid type-c DSP cable and carrying case. Also, this set looks freaking dope. Very similar to the Dunu Kima 2, which is definitely a compliment. But it’s the sound, as always. The balance of the mix is wonderful. It has organic and natural leaning timbre. Also, the sound is far cleaner than most warmly rendered sets. The bass hits hard, fast, tight, and has great extension into the lowest of lows. Then the midrange comes through very melodic for the cost. Very tuneful, no glare, no shout, just clean, fluid, and musically gifted with awesome rhythmicity. Vocals are great too. The treble is smooth, easy in the ears, nice extension, and perfectly emphasized against the bass. The S2 carries above average detail retrieval, good enough instrument separation, better than average imaging, and nice enough layering abilities too. I hear a nicely laid-out sound field, very immersive, with an engaging and emotionally charged sound that will absolutely get your feet moving, your head bobbing, while you sing your heart out. This is a definite rec from me and it’s great for the cost if the S2 sounds like it’d fit your preferences. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature of the SeekHifi S2, I first have to thank the good folks at SeekHifi. For a new brand I am very impressed. Also, for a new set the S2 has all that it takes to seriously compete. I also wan’t to thank the people who put this review together so that I could review this set in the first place. You know who you are. Lastly, I need to thank you, the reader, for taking the time out of your day to actually click the link and read my words. That is very humbling for me, and I cannot stress to you how important you are to Mobileaudiophile.com. You are the reason we do any of this. It’s to help you find your musical zen. So, thank you very much.

Other Perspectives  

Now that you’ve read my full review, I do hope you’ll click some other links on other reviews covering the SeekHifi S2. It’ll help you even more to understand the S2, and hearing other opinions will certainly help you to make a much better and more educated decision before you go and plop almost $130 down on this set. It’s always a good idea to get other perspectives from other reviewers. So please listen to, watch, or read other thoughts about this set folks and I do hope you find the perfect products for your listening sessions. Okay folks, I think I’m done! I hope each and every one of you are well and good. Please stay as safe as you are able and always… God Bless!