Hi Fri 1+3 enthusiasm is good. He is among them and his enthusiasm is about to turn into something solid like Kotori Audio Dauntless. This means paying off despite all the demotivativating talks. Here I want to speak about his 3BA 1DD in a 3d printed shell. The build is robust and yet pretty comfortable in my ears. This is a nice combination many brands and models failed reaching to. Such as This prototype iem does have 3 BA and 1 DD and is close to the build. I am grateful to the Hi Fri and his Hi Fri 1+3 for the testing opportunity. Keep in mind that this is the first. Second with purplish faceplate with gears will land in some time later.
The test setup and method
I’ll be conducting the test with two different sources. First is ibasso dx300 and the second is ipod nano 6. So here we go:
First track of testing is Knife Party Bonfire. 1+3 has strong and punchy basses as it’s FR graph shows. And the sound level at 50/100 sound of nano 6 is implying that it will improve with power. Even though I am not receiving enough power, I am having tactile feedback from its triple dynamic drivers.
Second is a harder track to sound good. However even with its first moments the live on stage transparency is very good. The lack of power is still observable. Now I am having a laid back and calm time like the Sunday I am performing. This power thing aside, its passing 70/100 at all the technical aspects. However some soundstage width would be nice.
Now dx300 time. Let’s use a heavy cannon at Hi Fri 1+3 🙂 The actual heaviest will be used last.
Limehouse Blues is best consumed with high power. Instruments approached near me and all is playing around my head 🙂 And I loved the bass control here. I am %100 sure that I am not hearing a stomach vibrating bass here. Or head tilting. It’s smooth jazz man!
With Bonfire I am hearing and energetic and exciting sound. Bass is punchier than ever. But probably due to the power and dac upgrade, the tactile feedback at this track has been lessened.
And the orbital tri3ple laser cannon time! dx300 + TRI TK2
Bonfire is in its best shape with Hi Fri 1+3. This-is-imp-res-sive! Now the bass is almost pounding with a nice increase in treble quantity and %30 volume is enough for this.
The pawnshop came alive. Soundstage is extended more to all dimensions. By this “alive” being, 3d imaging reached up to a great level. I know this is not BGVP flagship DM8 but I guess nearly the best a homemade DIY iem can get even the mid range frequencies are tamed down a notch or two in this version.
Conclusions
Enthusiasm and persistence always pays off in a way or another. Hi Fri’s creations are a proof too. The body in its sound is at the level of KZ I had reviewed before. Clarity wise sorry KZ..
