Sound Rhyme DTE264 Review
Intro
Hello, this review and feature covers the latest from the audio brand Sound Rhyme Audio named the Sound Rhyme DTE264 ($999). The DTE264 is what I’d consider a true flagship level iem from this adored audio brand. Folks, Sound Rhyme has created quite a cult following of late and I am so stoked to see where they go from here as I’ve already spent quite a bit of time with the DTE264. I usually write my intro prior to even receiving a product but this one came on as somewhat of a surprise from the good people of Penon as I am part of the Audio Geeks USA Tour. So, thank you to both entities as it is truly wonderful to be able to experience a set like the DTE264 for such a long period of time. At any rate, the DTE264 is a 2 dynamic driver, 6 balanced armature driver, and four electrostatic driver earphones which are all packed in some gorgeous shells. Truly a work of art folks.
Sound Rhyme
In the realm of personal audio and the market at large, Sound Rhyme is actually a fairly new brand. However, you really wouldn’t think that’s the case when you consider the outright respect so many audio enthusiasts have for them. It seems that set after set is sought after, gazed upon, and wished for by so many hobbyists. One after the other, each new set which hits the market seems to receive huge accolades. I wish I knew more about them or have had some experience with their iems but unfortunately, I simply haven’t been in a position to hear any of their iems. In fact, the DTE264 is the first Sound Rhyme iem I’ve ever heard, believe it or not. It’s quite a set to get Introduced to a brand with, and I’m definitely okay with that.
Let’s get into it…
The Audio world has been undergoing a huge transformation into packing as many drivers as possible into these shells and it seems that every brand makes sure to add in a treble EST to cap everything off. I happen to love this as I do feel that EST drivers create the best treble quality in the business. I should state once more that Sound Rhyme decided upon four of them for this set. Naturally I was beyond happy to hear the end result. However, for Sound Rhyme to cohesively melt 12 drivers into each earphone is pretty much miraculous. What’s even more miraculous is the fact that they actually tuned this set to be cohesive across those drivers. It’s really remarkable. Anyways, I’m getting ahead of myself. I should note before I get into this review that this is only a sound review as I don’t have any of the packaging whatsoever for the DTE264. Only the case and the cable. So, I’ll speak on what I know and leave the rest for another reviewer. With that, I think I’m ready to get into this review folks. So, without further ado… the Sound Rhyme DTE264 everyone…
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DTE264 Pros
-One of the most gorgeous designs on the market
-Nice cable and carrying case
-Fantastic energy and expressive macro-dynamics
-Great timbre for an analytically based iem
-Super punchy, tight, and defined bass region
-Midrange is forward, bright, extremely clean
-Treble is transparent, has that perfect bite, very well extended
-One of the most detailed iems under $1k
-Sound separation is ludicrous
-The soundstage is vast, deep
DTE264 Cons
-Many folks will be thrown off by the brightness of this set
-Can be shouty at times
-Warm, lush, and bass heavy lovers will not like this set
-May be a hair too large for smaller ears
Gear used for testing
–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Accessories
*Note: Once again, I did not receive all of the packaging that comes with the Sound Rhyme DTE264. I only received the earphones, carrying case, and the cable. So, I will only be able to speak on those accessories.
Carrying Case
The carrying case provided is one of my favorites of any set at any price. I love it. It’s actually a fully metal carrying case. The case is in a hockey puck style and has a threaded lid which screws on. I love the metal clanking on each other as I mate the threads. It’s the little things folks. Anyways, it simply feels and looks like quality. It feels amazing. Also, there’s just enough room for the cable, the earphones themselves, and possibly some extra tips too. Who knows, maybe if you’re good you can squeeze in a small dongle dac. Anyways, it’s a good size and the case will certainly protect your precious earphones. I think it’s a nice addition.
Cable
The included cable is a decent one. I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s a nice addition for sure. Now, Penon offers almost no explanation of this cable in the promotional material for the DTE264. All we know, (all I know) is that the cable is white, that it’s silver-plated copper, and that it’s a modular cable which comes with a 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced connectors. I was only provided with 4.4. Well, thankfully I was provided the 4.4. In any case, it’s a very pliable cable that looks nice attached to the DTE264. I hear no real microphonics or anything that would make me want to cable swap. Granted, if I owned this set there’s a few cables I would want to try out paired with the DTE264. I’d try a fully copper cable for sure. However, this is only a tour unit and I’m not even going through the trouble. Anyways, nice cable.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
The actual build quality of the Sound Rhyme DTE264 is without question very nice. I’d say the DTE264 are built with comfort in mind as they are extremely lightweight as they’re made entirely out of skin friendly resin material. I don’t have much info at all but I’m assuming this set was 3D printed. I’m assuming Sound Rhyme went through about a hundred different body shapes and sizes trying to find the perfect design for their drivers. However, the size is actually not quite as large as I thought it would be to house so many drivers. Granted, they’re freaking big. No doubt about it. Yet smaller than I envisioned. More compact than I figured they’d be. Having said that, smaller ears will still want to learn more to figure out if the DTE264 will even fit in their ears. I love that Sound Rhyme used an aluminum nozzle as it really does complete the look of this set while also providing a more durable nozzle for use in a bunch of different scenarios. The nozzles are right around 6mm in width and the DTE264 nozzles have a hair-longer-than-average insertion depth. I think this is nice because it helped secure them very nicely. To be honest, the DTE264 isn’t built particularly special in any way that I can tell, yet in the same breath they are functionally very nice as they’re lightweight and can easily be worn for long stretches of time without fatigue. That may or may not be important to you.
Design
The design and aesthetic are where I feel the DTE264 starts to stand out because it is (in my opinion) one of the coolest looking iems within the market. You’ll notice the entire shells and faceplates have this beautiful swirling pattern of different blues and white. The primary color of this set is a bright turquoise color with swirly mixes of darker blues and to contrast Sound Rhyme added in some white coloration to offset the blues and they all swirl in an almost marbled pattern. You can see “Sound Rhyme” carefully placed at the bottom of one faceplate and the Sound Rhyme logo on the other and both imposed using a silver color. Add to that the all-alloy nozzles and you have yourself a slick looking set. The end result is nothing short of gorgeous. Truly a beautiful set of earphones.
Internals
As far as the Internals goes, Sound Rhyme decided upon 12 drivers per side. That’s 2DD’s, 6 BA’s, and four EST drivers. Sound Rhyme literally doesn’t tell us anything more than that. I have zero idea what make and model the drivers are, what size they are, or anything else. All I know is “what” they are. Lol. C’mon Sound Rhyme! Lol. I wish I could speak more on this but, oh well. I can tell you that obviously the drivers used are of solid quality. That’s a given. I hear no distortions, no odd cleanliness issues either. You can crank this set up and they don’t all of a sudden lose fidelity. Not bad.
Fit / Comfort
Like I said earlier the DTE264 is a very lightweight set which helps for long stretches of listening. The ergonomics are very nice folks. I feel the nozzle length is just about perfect too. For me the DTE264 fit almost perfectly. Perhaps a hair of moving them around to get a seal, but all in all they fit wonderfully. Very ergonomically friendly and very easy on the ears even with the crazy number of drivers housed within the shells. Weight distribution is great. Also, I hear really nice sound isolation from the outside world. I noticed in their promotional material that the DTE264 attenuates up to 30db of outside noise. Folks this fact alone makes this a special set for stage purpose and even for mixing. However, I also love that for simple casual listening too. So, the DTE264 are very comfortable, small ears tread easy, and the DTE264 will attenuate outside noises very nicely.
Drivability / Pairings
Output Power
Sound Rhyme states that the DTE264 is rated for an impedance of right around 19 ohms as well as a sensitivity of about 106 db’s. No doubt this is a very sensitive iem which will work well for even less powerful sources. Having said that, feed the DTE264 some juice folks. Just do it. Without question the DTE264 will reward you with more power added. They scale very well. What do I mean by “more power”? I’d say at least try to find a solid dongle dac with good 4.4 balanced output. Almost all dongle dacs nowadays past the $50 price point have some good output. I feel that all of my more powerful sources definitely tightened up the spectrum a bit. Bass is already tight and punchy, but with more juice they become super punchy, very fast. The treble too. I found that the treble has just a hair of splash up top with some of my lesser powerful sources and some BA timbre. That all goes away with every source I have that offers more juice.
Sonic Pairings
So, the Sound Rhyme DTE264 is neutral/bright sounding set and without question I found that warmer sources definitely offset that brightness very nicely. So, for me a warm to warm/neutral sounding source device sounds best. However, I have plenty of straight neutral sources which sound very nicely too. I just prefer a hair more warmth. but that’s me, and I’m not you. Maybe you love a brighter hue to your music. I certainly don’t feel it’s a requirement, but it helps for some source coloration to offset the brightness. The good thing for me is that I have many sources which fit that bill. I’d simply stay away from any source which embellishes the upper frequencies. I really don’t think the DTE264 needs anymore treble emphasis. Trust me, it has enough folks. Do the legwork and go through all of your source devices but I’m telling you right now that you should strive to find a warm to warm/neutral source for best sonics. My opinion of course. My favorite listening sessions came from my Shanling M6 Ultra as well as my Fiio Q15. However, I got a fantastic pairing out of the iBasso DX240 or even my Fiio JM21. Both of those devices are closer to neutral. I only say that so that you aren’t scared away if your source device leans neutral. Now, I’m quite positive that anyone seeking to purchase the $999 DTE264 will likely own a nice source device. I’m sure whatever you have will be fine. Once more, so long as it isn’t a bright leaning source.
Sound Impressions
*Note: I just want to preface this section with a few things before I delve into the sound. First off, this is a tour unit and so I wasn’t able to burn them in. I have zero idea if this is helpful or not. Though, I would definitely suggest you do so with so many drivers, especially the two dynamic drivers. Also, I used KBear 07 tips with this set as it offered the best sonics for me coupled with the best comfort. You may be totally different, but the 07’s are always the most comfortable eartips for my ears. Also, I feel the semi-wide bore, firm flange, and rigid bore definitely helps with this set. I listen mainly with flac or better files which are stored on my devices and the Android music players of my choice is UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) as well as Hiby Music Player at times.
What’s it sound like?
The Sound Rhyme DTE264 is what I’d consider an analytical lover’s dream set as it truly competes with the best of the best when it comes to straight up detail retrieval and overall technical ability. Friends, if you want to hear every single micro-dynamic shift and micro-detail present in your music then look no further than the DTE264 from Sound Rhyme. I promise you on that. These sets can only get so good technically before we start hearing some extremely odd timbral qualities. Thankfully the DTE264 has very nice timbre for its top shelf technical capacity. Sound Rhyme outfitted the DTE264 with all the tools necessary to extract every single subtlety from my music. Every fine bit of minutiae, every faint harmonic, even the almost imperceptible info within my music is captured. The DTE264 has this awesome ability to sound rich in its thinness (yes, I realize that sounds contradictory) with this thinly weighted note density that is both glass-lined and exact in its precision. It’s a certain condensed rigidity that was apparent from the first track. This is also a set which redefines the words “knife-edged”. The DTE264 carries this perfectly abrasive and edgy surface texture when called upon. It has all the percussive snap for snares, cymbals and drums in general. All the wonderfully edgy bite with strings, the radiance for certain woodwinds, etc. Beyond that, the DTE264’s ability to sound very airy and open coupled with its ability to also have depth to its sound makes for a multi-dimensioned sound field as well as a very nicely separated and layered sound field as well.
There’s a balance, sort-of…
Now that I’ve spoken about the DTE264’s amazing ability, I should also point out that the DTE264 is also fairly well balanced in its tuning and dynamics. Now, there’s no question that the DTE264 is a bright tilted iem. It is flat out bright and so you must be okay with some resplendent brilliance in your listening sessions. I’m just preparing you. However, this set doesn’t leave out the rest of the mix, at all. I’ll dive much deeper into that last statement as we move forward, but I didn’t want to scare you away in the first paragraph. Make no mistake it’s bright, but Sound Rhyme didn’t start doing this tuning stuff yesterday. They’ve been at this game for a long enough time with enough experience within their ranks to cover the entire spectrum very well. I’d also say that while the sound is bright, I rarely felt I needed to do anything to attenuate any of that brightness. Side note – I enjoy all sound signatures, even the bright ones. Furthermore, the DTE264 has some very impressive speed folks. Its ability to hit each note precisely and then recover is absolutely awesome. There is no track too complicated. Sound Rhyme truly created a top tier set for most any technicality. Add to that, the DTE264 is also extremely cohesive across the mix. This is very impressive for a set with as many drivers as the DTE264 has.
Polarizing
In my opinion, not everyone is going to be a fan. The DTE264 has a very particular sound and so you could also say it’s a bit polarizing. To a degree anyways. The sound is mostly dry yet with moments of moist density. Again, it’s thinner in nature so anyone wanting warm, rich, or lush should definitely keep moving to a different set. You’ll certainly need to make sure that this sound signature agrees with you. For instance, there is most definitely some sharpness at times. It’s true that most of the time that sharpness comes through as sparkly and inviting to the ear. But it has its moments which will sound a hair grating also. It’s definitely something to consider. Also, this is not an overly musical sound either. Well, musical in a “traditional” sense. I have to be careful how I word this so as not to lead you astray. The sound is “musical”. All earphones have some level of musicality. The sound of the DTE264 is certainly fluid and rhythmic, but it’s simply not that earthy warm and engaging type of “musical” that we’d usually define musicality with. However, it certainly carries a tune and does so in a very tuneful way. Yet it is an analytical-first iem that’s definitely somewhat dry, has some thinness, and it’s very open and airy. I think the biggest differentiating factor between the DTE264 and other dry and thin, clinical and analytical tuned sets that we are used to is that the DTE264 also has that condensed body, the roundness of note, the layering of the sound field. It all comes together very well. So maybe it has a technically adept, cooler, and brighter version of a musical sound. I’d agree with that.
Condensed Sound Between the 20’s
You’ll hear a very punchy and acute bass that is able to reach some nice extension into the sublevels. However, the bass will never overtake the sound field. The bass region is a supporting actor which is wonderfully detailed, well separated and has enough oomph to cover any track. Looking at the midrange I hear a forward, extremely clean, vibrant, and dynamic sound. You’ll hear a lot of note completing crispness, a fine-lined note contour and a fast transient response. The sound in the mids is somewhat dry, but not without some essence of musicality. Certainly, analytical in nature. The treble is simply awesome. Without question the focus. Extremely well detailed, with that perfect EST crunch and bite. The extension into the upper treble is remarkable too. The best is that Sound Rhyme was able to tune the treble to not be outright piercing. It’s sharp without sounding harsh. It’s crystalline with its clean, rounded, and haptic treble notes. Detail retrieval is top notch, top class, along with some of the best sound separation you’ll hear. The DTE264’s ability to create a believable stereo image that adds both width and depth to the stage is commendable with fantastic layering abilities. No doubt the DTE264 will not fit everyone and can sound very polarizing too. However, this set is going to be loved for what it does well by those who can appreciate what Sound Rhyme was able to do with this set. Let’s check out each 3rd of the mix (bass, mids, treble) a bit closer.
Bass Region
The low-end of the Sound Rhyme DTE264 is very high in quality and is mostly moderate in actual weight & emphasis. Most certainly it is quality-over-quantity. Sound Rhyme did not boost this region above any other area of the mix but instead tuned the lows to support other regions. You won’t hear any added warmth or weight from the lows spilling over. They are kept pretty much spotless, extremely detailed, and they carry just enough emphasis to convincingly carry this region well in most any genre of music. Like I said, the emphasis is not overly lifted, and the bass won’t oversaturate the mix, at all. I hear a somewhat dry bass, very well textured, but it’s also a very punchy, a very hard-edged bass. Its agility is evident as the DTE264’s bass region is precise and exact in its dynamic fluctuations. Also, it’s a very speedy bass that can tackle any track you throw at it. Again, it’s all about quality here. Sound Rhyme tuned this bass with a perfect level of depth and slam to never become a detriment to any other area of the mix whilst also providing the rumble and impact necessary for most any low-end instrument.
Sub-Bass
The sublevels of the low-end provide just enough extension to come across moderately meaty. I shouldn’t even need to add that this is the furthest thing from a basshead style tuning. But the sub-bass is hearty enough to give some rumble and low droning weight. The crazy thing is how natural the timbre is in this region whilst still coming across very speedy and transient quick. I love how well the sub-bass recovers every last deep note with efficiency and speed. Each note hits fast, goes deep, and recovers fast. On to the next note to hear the same thing, no matter how tightly spaced or congested the track sounds. This is certainly a leaner style sub-bass, yet in that lean note structure there’s also a certain density that will make its presence felt in tracks which require it. In “2040” by Lil Baby and Lil Durk I hear a moderate weight and I also feel some haptic recognition when the bass drops. It certainly isn’t ultra deep or authoritative. But it’s there. However, I love the feels I get in “Muse” by Hysteria and the way the DTE264 navigates every fast fluctuation of bass sounds as though each note has its own atmosphere. It’s fast and bullish just enough to cover this tracks bass weight effectively. So don’t expect anything big or bulbous. Do expect a very well-defined sub-bass with adequate vibratory goodness.
Mid-Bass
The mid-bass is much the same as far as actual emphasis is concerned. Definitely a moderate level of slam which won’t make the bass bois amongst us happy. However, I also don’t feel that the DTE264’s mid-bass necessarily lacks emphasis or fullness at all. I’ve grown to really enjoy its fast twitch reaction speed and hard, tight, and controlled note delivery. In fact, there is a very punchy, and very hard-edged sound out of the DTE264’s mid-bass. Transients move along fast enough to sound cohesive with the rest of the mix and do so with adequate levels of meatiness and oomph. I find that bass guitar has the edginess and just enough raw weight to feel full enough though some may feel it may lack a bit. Not me. Kick drum has a satisfyingly tacky attack along with enough resonant boom to come across gratifying in my opinion. You just have to envision a moderate level of warmth and weight. Tracks like “Feel Good inc.” by the Gorillaz features that tight and low droning bass guitar and I honestly don’t feel any lack here. In fact, the DTE264 handles this track masterfully. Another track called “Got Your Back” by Washed Out offers some very nice slam and never masks over any other part of the melody. I really enjoy the DTE264’s tight but also fairly authoritative slam. It’s very nice. Perhaps not enough emphasis to completely counter the brightness of the highs, but very nice, very clean, very well-defined, and detailed.
Downsides to the Bass Region
The biggest gripe over the low-end is really just a subjective issue that some folks might have according to their own preferences. I say that because I cannot find anything inherently “wrong” with the bass at all. That one possible issue would be for anyone who simply yearns for a warmer, more bullish bass region. Maybe some folks wouldn’t like the tight nature of the bass too. Some folks desire that atmospheric lag. This isn’t a warm bass. Yes, it hits fairly hard and has nice extension into the sublevels, but it isn’t a warm and organic style bass which offers weight and richness. It’s too clean for that. Really that’s the only issue that may be glaring for some folks. Maybe a little more emphasis would be good. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to counter that treble a bit more with some warmth.
Midrange
The midrange of the DTE264 comes across neutral/bright to my ears. Or neutral with a heavy spritzing of brightness. I have to watch how I say the word “bright” as I don’t want to walk anyone down the wrong road here. I say bright but really it comes across more like luminance, it glows. It isn’t necessarily sharp, harsh, or discordant. It’s never really unpleasant. Well, there are a few tracks which tested my ability to handle some bright tones, but for the most part the DTE264 always keeps a well-controlled and capped handle on any radiance borrowed from the treble region. Timbre is not perfectly natural as transients are a hair too quick for that, and the brightness illuminates more than something that I’d call “organic”. However, it’s still so easy to listen to. Very nice bright/neutral timbre that’s very pleasing to the ear.
Mids cont…
The DTE264’s midrange is one which I find to be fairly far forward and very energetic with loads of clean details. Every single last threadlike, and fine-spun bit of minutiae within my music is very easy to detect or discern. Truly a wonderfully nuanced midrange. Now, the mids are on the thinner side of the aisle, but I also find that the midrange too has that very concrete note density condensed into a thinner note structure. Like lean-muscle-mass. Transients are very quick as attack through sustain moves along at breakneck speeds handling any track no matter how complicated it sounds. The great thing is that the DTE264 doesn’t fully neglect musicality. Like I said earlier, there is a fluidity to its sound. It isn’t all hard right angles, edginess, crispness, and abruptness to each note. There is some smoothness and wavy lines in there too. Having said that, there’s no question that Sound Rhyme tuned this set to be analytically inclined. In my opinion, it’s very hard to not be impressed.
Lower-Midrange
The lower midrange is not as recessed as one may think as instruments and vocalists are not pushed into the rear of the sound field. They’re actually somewhat forward, with solid presence. Additionally, the low-mids are also highly resolute, and very nicely textured. Male vocalists aren’t quite as authoritative as I’d like. Perhaps not as rich in body as I’d usually like to hear. However, I cannot take anything away from how well composed they sound with very nice energy. Let’s put it this way, if you are going to feature thinner male vocalists then you’d better give them good dynamics and plenty of actual “presence”. Thankfully Sound Rhyme did just that. Male vocals may be thinner, but they aren’t frail. If that makes any sense. They aren’t warmed, and weighted as the bass region really doesn’t fall into the midrange at all. The bonus with this style tuning is that you won’t have the bass region mucking up the midrange at all. It’s just crystal clear, transparent, and very highly nuanced. Alex Warren sings “Ordinary” and with the DTE264 his voice sounds like it’s right in front of me. The twinkling piano sounds effervescent and lively with plenty of sparkle. Alex’s voice has a perfectly clean note outline with no fuzz, grain, or veil whatsoever along with expert separation between his voice and the melody which carries on behind him.
Low-mids cont…
Most every note that I had jotted down concerning male vocalists were generally the same. They sound forward, thin but energetic, great presence (depending on the track of course) and they never feel dull. All instruments walk the same line. Percussion has plenty of pointed snap, strings sound wonderfully edgy and tuneful. In fact, all instruments sound airy, open, shimmery and the timbre isn’t far off of natural. Snares have a wonderful and distinct “PAP” with that exact and acute initial strike which really does sound satisfying. When I say strings are edgy and tuneful I mean, when I hear the pluck of an acoustic guitar the DTE264 picks up that micro-abrasive reverberant rebound as the finger flicks the strings. The wonderful edginess of a violin. The DTE264 picks up all of it and relays that info straight to my brain. I like it.
Upper-Midrange
The upper midrange is definitely more forward than the lower half of this range. As one would expect. Naturally they are going to come across a bit more energetic and sprightlier. Just like the lower half, the upper-mids are also on the thinner side as far as note weight is concerned. However, just like the lower half I also hear wonderful presence in his region. Now, I usually enjoy my females to sound a hair more moist and bodied, but the DTE264 once again surprises me with crystal clear inflections to all female voices. They sound absolutely resplendent folks. Full of this controlled shimmer which seems to take my ears right to the cusp of sharpness yet dials it back just before it becomes an issue. Really, females actually sound very nice to the ear. Of course, there are some instruments which may sound a hair too harsh but that is few and far in between in my opinion. Females like Caitlyn Smith sings the song “High” and sounds very pleasant to the ear. She sounds very feathery as the song opens with a very soft and harmonious feel. However, as the song moves to the chorus the DTE264 is able to handle the chaos which ensues as Caitlyn sounds absolutely resounding as she belts it out. Her voice is surrounded by the melodic chaos of many instruments jamming out together creating the emotion of the track. I love that the DTE264 handles this part of the track so nicely with properly separated and clean instruments without them sounding like a mishmash of smeared noise.
Are you sensitive?
Now, I’d say that anyone sensitive to some shout should be at least marginally wary. Again, the DTE264 is a fairly bright set. For the record, I can handle it fine, and I get way more enjoyment out jf the energy provided than not, but I know not everyone will share my enthusiasm. Any set with a brighter tilt has the capability of being too much for those sensitive. I’ll echo what I’ve been saying as I really don’t feel the DTE264 ever veers into strident-piercing-coarseness, but my ears aren’t your ears.
Downsides to the Midrange
The issues with the midrange will stem from a couple different places. For one, you don’t have any bass warmth cascading into the midrange providing warmth and weight. Those who enjoy a richer sound will likely not enjoy the thinner note body of the midrange. So warm, lush lovers, this one may not be for you. Also, the DTE264 can be a hair too bright, too shouty for some. As honest as I can be it is never really an issue for me. I’m too busy concentrating on every last detail being illuminated within the sound field. However, be aware that the DTE264 can push the limits a bit. In my opinion, that brightness is almost so clean that it almost isn’t as sharp, or harsh. The control is so very good folks. I mean, perfectly glass-lined outlines to every note, very tight transients, density is better than it should be, instruments separation is out of this world, the sound is airy and very open. The mids are completely unsullied and wonderfully refined.
Treble Region
This brings us to the treble region which is (in my opinion) the star of the show here folks. Sound Rhyme saw to it to add four EST drivers controlling this range and by all means you can tell. I hear a wonderful treble body and note texture. There’s this crispness which adds such a lovely and lively crunch to every note that calls for it. The treble has this nice clean-edged bite which adds just enough natural sharpness to instruments within my music as well. It’s really very impressive to my ears. Like I’ve said throughout this entire review, the DTE264 is a brighter leaning set, and the treble is a huge part of that. Having said that, I don’t feel the treble is too bright for me. Again, Sound Rhyme knows what they’re doing, and it shows because the brightness of this region sounds a whole lot more like shimmer and sparkle without all the discordant harshness or treble glare. There’s something about clean notes which almost strip the treble tizz from sounding harsh. I don’t really know how else to say it. Yes, it’s emphasized quite a bit, but again, I don’t find it to be bothersome at all. To take things even further, the treble has some very nice musicality too. It’s resplendent, it’s lustrous, and it’s much more like a nice glow than it is beaming with treble sheen. Every note is exact, it’s precise, and there’s no track too fast and no track too complicated. The DTE264’s drivers handle them all. Beyond those things, I also don’t hear any undue sibilance either, oddly enough. Not only do I not hear sibilance, but the sound is wildly cohesive with wonderful treble timbre which never comes across metallic. Every note is perfectly separated with no smearing of the treble region.
Technically on-point
I feel like I don’t even need to say it but the treble region is ridiculously well detailed. Every instrument sounds perfectly separated from the next one and I hear a very nice ability to layer the sounds in this region. There’s such a nice distinction between notes and that bite I was talking about seems to give those treble notes even better presence against the rest of the mix. The treble stands out, it’s prominent, commanding even. Much more than just “icing in the cake”. Without question I feel that this is a set for those die-hard treble heads to fall in love with. At any rate, detail retrieval is such that it’ll keep your mind’s eye unconsciously concentrating on every one of those details. It isn’t the type which is smoothed over and velvet in demeanor and every poorly recorded track will sound like a poorly recorded track. This treble is exact, every note is strict in its comings and goings, with on-the-money, stop-on-a-dime style note-control which feels both bodied and rounded. Yes, I said “feels”. I say that because this is the type of treble which actually provides an almost haptic feedback. Everything is so incisive, the sound field is deep, and it’s simply a very solid treble display.
Extension
I should also pass along that extension into the highest of highs is nice as well. It’s not the easiest thing to dissect what is an upper treble sound and what isn’t. Having said that, it seems easier with the DTE264. We (reviewers) always talk about cymbals to describe region. However, the bulk of the sound from a cymbal generally resides in the midrange. It’s “generally” the secondary harmonics which align with the upper treble. One thing I can tell you for sure is that there’s no splashiness in those harmonics whatsoever. Beyond cymbals, there are a few other instruments which seem to straddle this region. Like violin, flute etc. I can tell you that everything comes across with solid timbre. Everything sounds sparkly in this region, everything sounds cohesive. The only thing I’d add is that at times some of those notes may sound a hair clipped due to the faster and tighter transients. You don’t have those lingering harmonics. At least that I can perceive. All things considered, the DTE264’s treble region is very nice.
Downsides to the Treble Region
The biggest downside that I could see would be for those who don’t enjoy such a prominent emphasis. The DTE264’s treble isn’t just prominent, it’s the focus. So those who desire a more rolled-off sound with no chance at anything sharp will likely not entirely enjoy what Sound Rhyme was able to produce here. Granted, the bass emphasis does slightly contrast the treble, perhaps just enough. But it won’t be for everyone. It’s just the truth folks. Not everyone enjoys what the next person enjoys. I feel the treble is outstanding, but the person right next to me may feel the polar opposite of my thoughts. So, for some folks this treble may be horrid. Granted, I don’t know how anyone could listen to this set and come to that conclusion, but I’m sure there are plenty of those folks. Also, some people really desire a perfectly smoothed over treble full of toned-down brilliance. I get it too because so many of my absolute favorite iems have just that. However, I couldn’t listen to this set for as many days as I have and not commend Sound Rhyme on this one. Good job.
Technicalities
Soundstage
I find the soundstage to be about average to above average. I mean, we are talking about a $1k iem here folks. Many of these sets in this price point have amazing soundstage width, height and depth. Well, the DTE264 is no different. I hear very nice width which outstretched past my ears, very immersive, very full. Also, height is very nice too. That said, it’s the 3D layering and depth which makes this stage so special. It’s clearly a wonderful sound stage which helps the overall sound to come across holographic and very well dimensioned. The stage is great.
Separation / Imaging
Just like I’ve said a bunch already, the DTE264’s ability to separate instruments and voices is absolutely top-class. The DTE264 is tuned in such a way that makes clear distinctions between instruments within the sound field. Again, the DTE264 is a very clean and crisp sounding set. There’s a lot of exact and precise dynamics and not a lot trips this set up. I went through my playlists listening to some of the more complicated tracks and found the DTE264 handles them all relatively easily. Of course, there are some poorly recorded tracks which will go against what I’m saying, to a degree. However, the great majority of the time the DTE264 can handle just about anything very well. Remember, the DTE264 has fast, tight, and pinpoint transients with an airy and open sound, thinner note body, but also a condensed note body, along with that wide and deep stage. Take all of these attributes and what you have is a set which is a technical monster. Imaging is just as good if not better because the DTE264 has such nice layering of sounds. I hear pinpoint placement of all sounds within the stage going left and right along with front to back. No doubt about it the DTE264 is pretty special in this regard.
Detail Retrieval
Same thing goes for detail retrieval. It’s great. The DTE264 is a bona-fide stud when it comes to illuminating the minutia within my music. I’ve said it a number of times already that the DTE264 is quite literally tuned to bring out the subtleties. Also take into account the number of high quality and cohesive drivers which help to sculpt each note. You can hear just about every fine thing. Whether it’s finger slides on the guitar, the person coughing 3 rows back in your favorite live track, or those subtle harmonics seldom heard on other sets. I think the DTE264 is going to make some people very happy. Detail retrieval is very solid on this set folks.
Is it worth the asking price?
This is a great question. I can answer this question very quickly and very decisively, but that answer most definitely comes with a few caveats which we cannot get around. One of those caveats are for those people who don’t feel any set above $300 (insert dollar amount here) is worth the cost. Obviously, those people have already tuned out. Is that a fair assessment though? For those people it is. Truth is, I know what goes into making some of these sets. The parts and pieces, hours logged for employees, expensive R&D, designers, sound engineers, builders, testers, etc. etc. There’s a lot of hours spent making these sets and so the price should reflect that. It should be that way in any business. Pay a person for their hard work. Also, these brands aren’t in this game to lose money folks. So, I don’t really agree with the person who feels that no set above a certain price isn’t worth it. I do understand it though. I understand it because I cannot afford anything this expensive. Another caveat would be for those who simply don’t like an analytically bright tilted sound. Those folks who only enjoy warm, rich, & lush, with a rolled-off treble obviously won’t feel the DTE264 is worth the $999 to own it.
I’m talking to you…
Truthfully, there are always a ton of caveats and so this question should really be directed at those people with a realistic opportunity and desire to purchase this set, or a set similar. Those who have the money to do so. The caveat is that they have to enjoy this type of tuning. Those are the people I’m talking to here. I’ve reviewed and tested enough +$1k kilo-buck sets to have a decent idea how things compare. Of course, I am not the end-all-be-all on expensive audio gear. Nor do I proclaim to be. However, I digress, the people I’m answering this for are those people who have the means and the desire to find a set near this price point. To those folks I can say assuredly that the Sound Rhyme DTE264 can play ball “technically” with any set out there. I’ve heard sets which are much more expensive that don’t do what the DTE264 does. And I’ve heard some which are more expensive and naturally are better too. Sets which have more of a musical flare yet still shine in detail retrieval, Imaging, separation etc. On the other side of the coin, I’ve heard many less expensive iems which can get you 80-90% of what the DTE264 can do. Still, to answer the question, yes, the Sound Rhyme DTE264 is worth what Sound Rhyme is asking.
The Why…
Because look at this iem folks. Now I’m not saying the design alone is worth $1k, but man is it a beautiful iem! It certainly doesn’t hurt to be one of the prettiest iems out there. It’s built so very well with a very ergonomic fit. I wish I could speak on the unboxing, but I cannot. I’m assuming that it is of high quality as well. But as always, the sound is what chooses the worth of anything in this hobby. Coincidentally, it’s the sound which makes the Sound Rhyme DTE264 worth the asking price. Friends, I was absolutely taken aback by the DTE264’s ability to resolve details. Man, the treble alone is out of this world good. Simply awesome. I love the high-octane energy that rarely ever crosses the line into harshness. I love the fast, tight, defined, separated, vigorously-punchy and wonderfully agile bass region. So clean, so fast. The midrange is one of my favorite analytical style midranges I’ve heard in a very long time. It’s so fluent yet so precise. Every detail, every hair-lined bit of minutia is illuminated. Macro-dynamics are vivacious, tonal contrast is great. The mids are forward yet never to a detriment. But folks, that treble is a delight. Treble heads meet your leader. The treble is so very nice. That bite, that punch, that treble crunch and crispness which highlight and crest a smooth underbody of each note. The extension is very well done. No splash, no sibilance, nothing wonky, nothing odd timberally or weird, nothing metallic either. Great timbre too. The stage is wide, tall and deep with great layering of the stage along with fantastic separation & imaging. It’s all there folks. Yes, the DTE264 is worth the cost.
Final thoughts on the DTE264 before I conclude
I’ve had a blast reviewing and featuring this set. Sound Rhyme is doing an awesome job proving to the audio world that they truly are one of the best audio brands on the planet. Set after set they come up with sought after products. The kicker is, they don’t all have the same tunings. Granted, I’ve only ever heard the DTE264, but looking at reviews of other sets tells me that they are very comfortable switching things up. I love that they created the DTE264 to be so bold in its sound. It is unapologetically tuned in its analytical style and it is done very well. This review has been pure joy for me. Writing about it was easy folks. A set like this makes it easy. Taking pictures is easy too. Shoot, the DTE264 practically takes the photos itself. No doubt the DTE264 is a picture in any moment. This is a set which should most certainly be considered for anyone who aligns with its sound and who isn’t scared at its cost.
They Nailed It
Now, there is no doubt in my mind that the DTE264 is not going to be for everyone. I hope you’ve come to that conclusion reading this review. If not, then I didn’t do my job. Folks, the tuning is a hair polarizing. It just is. The tuning fits a certain “type” of listener. Half of the hobbyist population may have a totally different take than I do. Well, I’d hope they’d be honest enough to at least speak on how talented this iem is for those who do enjoy this type of tuning. As much as I like the DTE264, it really isn’t a tuning I’d shoot for all the time. I usually like a richer sound. Still, I couldn’t possibly hear this set and not speak of the quality of its tuning. However, the point is that it can be slightly polarizing. Especially at just under $1k. The cool thing is that Sound Rhyme knew exactly what they were doing, and they knew exactly what they had created. Sound Rhyme went for a target sound, and they nailed it. I adore the sharp yet not-so-sharp sound. Taking me right to the brink of comfort at times yet never really crossing over that line. It’s a bold sound across the board. So, before I go, I have to officially say that I do recommend the Sound Rhyme DTE264 to anyone who enjoys an analytical-first iem which doesn’t miss on musicality. I recommend this set to anyone who wants a perfectly controlled sound, clean everywhere inside the 20’s. To those who adore that brilliant, crispy, crunchy, and extended treble, clean and tidy mids, or that punchy, vibrant, and snappy bass. It’s an easy rec.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the Sound Rhyme DTE264, I first have to thank the good people of Penon, as well as Audio Geeks USA Tour for providing the Sound Rhyme DTE264 for the purpose of review. I gotta tell you, there’s no way I’d be able to hear this set without both entities’ generosity. I cannot thank you enough. Writing these reviews is one of the best creative outlets for me and I couldn’t do that without the help of others, truly… Thank You! I also need to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link which took you here and also spending some time as well. We at Mobileaudiophile.com truly thank you. It is you who keeps us afloat and enables us to do what we do. Our greatest wish is that these reviews help you in some way.
Other Perspectives
Now that you’ve clicked on this review and spent the time learning my perspective on the DTE264, please go and read someone else’s. Get as many opinions as possible regarding this set. Well, do that for every set you plan to purchase. Unless of course you are like me and you throw caution to the wind and blind buy… Lol. Don’t be like me. Take the time to learn as much as you can because this hobby is 100% subjectivity all the time. Any reviewer who even tries to say that they are objective doesn’t know what the word “objective” or “subjective” means. I can promise you they are not objective. Our opinions come through our own taste, ideals, and experiential knowledge with these products and there’s no way we can objectively speak on anything without our own hearts and minds getting in the way. So, take in other “opinions” as we are all so very different. Folks, we may actually “hear” differently. Think about that. How many people do you know who are reviewing that cannot even hear certain frequencies? This changes the review big time! We all have different gear, we have different music libraries, different tastes, as well as different likes and dislikes. We are different! No two are the same. Most importantly, we all haven’t been down the same road in audio. This changes how we review entirely. So, take in other thoughts, it’ll only be a help for you in making your next purchase. Beyond that, I think I’m done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!!
