by
Introduction
Sound Conclusion:
The Form 1.1 is by no means perfect. At this price point there are compromises that always have to be made, but what makes the Form 1.1 so appealing as a product is that it blends together enough strengths that together they make up for many of the deficiencies that it has. Shozy has leveraged its higher-tiered products and allowed the Form to have a shell whose design and quality is rarely found at this price, and coupled it with a sound that has enough punch and energy to create a musicality and engagement that often has users looking beyond its technical flaws. It's something relatively affordable that practically anyone can jam on. And while it's not flawless, the total package it provides is hard to beat.
Sound 4/5
Shozy Audio a stalwart in the ever-developing Chinese audiophile scene have returned with a new series. The Form series which shall be heralded by the Form 1.1 a budget-friendly 1DD 1BA hybrid design that at $75 harkens back to the IEM that got their name into the budget-fi realm, the Hibiki and it's subsequent variations. Both carrying the promise to provide a superb value proposition at its price point, will the Form 1.1 deliver like the Hibiki that came before? Available now at Shenzhen Audio and Linsoul Audio.
Specifications
9.2mm beryllium coated dynamic driver for sub-bass to mids range
Single BA for mids-treble
Hybrid design, enhanced treble
Metallic nozzle and parts
Hand-crafted faceplate
2pin Detachable cable with fabric shielding for better durability and shock resistance.
Premium ear tips designed for enhanced bass response
20Hz-20KHz Frequency Response
100dB SPL/mW Sensitivity
19 Ohms Impedance
Gear Used and Track List
Hiby R6 | FiiO Q1 Mk. II | iFi xDSD | Massdrop x Cavalli CTH | xDuoo XD-05
Unboxing
The Form 1.1 comes in a simple small carton that houses the classic carrying case and includes the IEM some spare ear tips in many varieties and not much else. The style is reminiscent of Campfire Audio simple packaging style without the extra premium feel, but at the price of $75, you can't really complain that much at the spartan loadout. The tip loadout has a good mix including some multi-flanges and some foam tips to cater to most if not all users.
Scalability
The Form 1.1 is an easy to drive IEM that is also not overly sensitive to hissing making a good match for mobile devices, it's easy to drive nature also meant there weren't many gains when moving up the source stack as even phones and dongles had sufficient power and headroom to drive them, the gains you could get from the Form were incremental if at all. This isn't something anyone buying the Form should be all that concerned about and that makes sense for the price bracket of the Form.
Fit
A highlight of this design, the acrylic shell used by the Form is relatively compact for a universal that comes in this style, as well as relatively lightweight lending to a comfortable fit even when listening sessions get dragged on, and the vent seems to adequately prevent internal air pressure build-up within the ears. Isolation was good given it blocked a lot of the portion of the ear plus the smooth shape allowed for fewer gaps and those that were there were generally smaller compared to less form-fitting or more angular shapes. The faceplate is attractive and eye-catching without trending the line of gaudy. More on that below. Overall it's a well-fitting shell that should provide good isolation and comfort to most ear shapes.
Sound Review by Hoshi星
Sound Signature
The Form sorts a crowd-pleasing U-shaped tuning that is a less extreme take on the old classic V-shape that provides a fun musicality and makes a myriad of tracks and genres enjoyable to listen to, and pretty much anything in the main charts right now will sound just at home on the Form. Of the three major frequency spectrum portions, the bass takes the center stage promptly followed by the treble and the midrange a little bit behind. None of this leads to an unnatural tonality but it still isn't what I would call neutral, closer to a warm bass-forward one instead. One thing to note is that the tuning will lead to some treble energy so more treble sensitive prospective buyers keep that in mind as I describe each frequency range in depth.
Bass
The most favored range tuning wise, the vented beryllium coated dynamic driver provides ample bass that reaches deep enough in the sub-bass region without being what I would call extensive, this then transitions relatively cleanly into the more prominent midbass that provides a requisite punch and fullness, that while not always perfectly controlled, isn't sloppy either, especially considering the price it provides good weight and dynamics, sacrificing a little bit of bass resolution for fullness that translates well in rock tracks or tracks using similar drum styles as rock music. While not actually treading into basshead territory, the Form manages to deliver punchy, full bass that works well and doesn't manage to cloud the entire sound signature for the most part. Excellent value performance here.
Mids:
The mids take a step back, not incredibly so, but noticeable definitely. While not totally absent, listing to tracks which strip down the song, especially the bass, the sound is further out than normal but still not to an unnatural degree, vocals still stand out just enough and the lower and upper vocal register are balanced enough that there is no unnaturality present. However given the more reserved nature of the mids once songs start increasing in complexity or dialing up the pace, bits, and pieces definitely get lost in the mix, and either the BA can't pick it up enough or the DD BA transition hits a snag that causes some of these snags. Climbing up the register past the crossover the Form smooths out and gently rising towards the lower treble that rounds out the dip in the U-shaped tuning.
Treble:
Probably second in command in my pointless frequency metaphor, the Form has a BA that is tuned to be mildly energetic providing a lift to the sound, however, there is a perceptible lack of total control as there are peaks in the treble that for the sensitive may cause irritation or fatigue, there is also very mild sibilance in tracks that are prone, but nothing that will be problematic for most people in general. The energy of treble reproduction falls short of being tizzy, but it in tandem with the bass creating a fun and engaging sound signature that can easily draw you into the music. While this energy provides nice sparkle and a decent amount of air, the slightly more weighted bass and the reserved treble work hand in hand to lower down the ceiling of clarity that the Form can approach. It is far from being muddled but even more prominent treble can't do all the heavy lifting in the overall resolution of the Form.
Soundstage and Separation:
Probably one of the true banes of the Form. Both in terms of staging as well as details and separation the Form falters a tad. The soundstage is on the narrower side lending to a mildly congested presentation. As for the separation, the middling detail retrieval means that as stated earlier that congestion can cause a muddling of the sound field, once combined with the sound stage it overall gives a somewhat congested presentation, at least relatively, even at the price. Though still not to the point that totally drags the overall performance of the Form, rather it's just a dark spot on an otherwise pleasant overall item.
The mids take a step back, not incredibly so, but noticeable definitely. While not totally absent, listing to tracks which strip down the song, especially the bass, the sound is further out than normal but still not to an unnatural degree, vocals still stand out just enough and the lower and upper vocal register are balanced enough that there is no unnaturality present. However given the more reserved nature of the mids once songs start increasing in complexity or dialing up the pace, bits, and pieces definitely get lost in the mix, and either the BA can't pick it up enough or the DD BA transition hits a snag that causes some of these snags. Climbing up the register past the crossover the Form smooths out and gently rising towards the lower treble that rounds out the dip in the U-shaped tuning.
Treble:
Probably second in command in my pointless frequency metaphor, the Form has a BA that is tuned to be mildly energetic providing a lift to the sound, however, there is a perceptible lack of total control as there are peaks in the treble that for the sensitive may cause irritation or fatigue, there is also very mild sibilance in tracks that are prone, but nothing that will be problematic for most people in general. The energy of treble reproduction falls short of being tizzy, but it in tandem with the bass creating a fun and engaging sound signature that can easily draw you into the music. While this energy provides nice sparkle and a decent amount of air, the slightly more weighted bass and the reserved treble work hand in hand to lower down the ceiling of clarity that the Form can approach. It is far from being muddled but even more prominent treble can't do all the heavy lifting in the overall resolution of the Form.
Soundstage and Separation:
Probably one of the true banes of the Form. Both in terms of staging as well as details and separation the Form falters a tad. The soundstage is on the narrower side lending to a mildly congested presentation. As for the separation, the middling detail retrieval means that as stated earlier that congestion can cause a muddling of the sound field, once combined with the sound stage it overall gives a somewhat congested presentation, at least relatively, even at the price. Though still not to the point that totally drags the overall performance of the Form, rather it's just a dark spot on an otherwise pleasant overall item.
Comparison:
The Form 1.1 falls in an interesting spot in terms of comparison. In its currents price bracket, there really isn't anything close enough that really is a good comparison point precisely because of the price to performance the Form delivers. So instead I went with something more expensive but more adequately presents itself for comparison. The Periodic Audio Mg at $99 that is similarly tuned, priced higher but still trades blow for blow with the cheaper Form.
Periodic Audio Mg
The Form 1.1 falls in an interesting spot in terms of comparison. In its currents price bracket, there really isn't anything close enough that really is a good comparison point precisely because of the price to performance the Form delivers. So instead I went with something more expensive but more adequately presents itself for comparison. The Periodic Audio Mg at $99 that is similarly tuned, priced higher but still trades blow for blow with the cheaper Form.
Periodic Audio Mg
- Smoother tuning, particularly in the treble.
- Less recessed mid-range.
- Wider soundstage and better clarity.
- More powerful bass.
- Better build quality, and more thoughtful design.
- More energetic treble
Aesthetic Review by Steve
Introduction:
Shozy is one of the lower-profile companies from China in terms of aesthetics.
I personally know their boss and truly believe he's more technically oriented as
opposed to being aesthetics or marketing oriented. However, by looking at their
recent projects on the IEM stream, they seem to have found a formula to infuse a
spark into a plain design, to make ordinary looking IEMs not so ordinary, a
move from just plain solid or translucent colors. The Shozy Form 1.1 is a
great example of making it simple, safe and nice.
Color:
Companies that lean towards a simpler aesthetic design tend to use
black and grey tone colors. I guess it would fail you in mass production. The important
thing is how to make it a bit more unique from the others. The Form 1.1 uses
multi-colored glitter as a key factor in its core design. It's not something that wows you, but at
least you can see that they put effort into it and not just on the sound.
Comparing it with some other companies who provide only solid or translucent
colors, this is an improvement. The multi-color may not appeal to everyone as
it might come across as a bit too loud or slightly feminine especially for
mature audiophiles who generally look for more minimalistic designs. Even
though the average hue is not that vivid nor shiny, you also can't really
compare them with their previous models like the Shozy Lite or the Shozy BG
with gold flakes as they certainly look more luxurious. A similar formula,
different outcome. For a 75usd product, I think they did a clever and effective
job rather than just giving you a typical solid color option.
Craftmanship:
Nothing much to criticize about the craftsmanship. Edging and glossy
finish are nicely done. The whole faceplate and shell joined smoothly - no
spikes on either side, no bubbles, dents or scratches as well. Both logos are
evenly placed. Definitely satisfying for those who are picky in this aspect.
Shozy seems to maintain good craftsmanship standards and QC process since I
couldn't find any obvious flaws with their other models like the Lite, BG or
even the lower tier V33.
Design details:
The multi-colored glitter on the faceplate is evenly spread and does not have an inconsistent size of the flakes in general. On the photo above, you can see there are one of two flakes that are significantly larger, but unless you are extremely nit-picky or neurotic about fine details like this, I think it is acceptable for this tier. You can actually even see a more obvious one on the cover sleeve on their package. Glitter is easier to work with because it’s size is much smaller than gold or silver flakes so the proportion between the glitter and the faceplate wouldn't have any issues. On the other hand, flakes are much harder to even out and also the size difference of each flake is difficult to control.
Silhouette:
The curve line of the shell is smooth and without being clumsy (too
circular). The shape wouldn't give you an awkward feeling or any curves or corners
that bother you. A very comfortable shape that most of the people would be
satisfied with unless you are looking for a CIEM type fit.
Cable:
The cable itself looks good, having good texture and braid makes
it looks fuller considering it is part of a 75usd priced IEM package. However
what really bothers me is the cable material - fabric coated. The downside is
that if you have really sweaty hands, like mine, this would be a pain for you
since it's not washable, unlike those ones you normally see with a PU coat on
it. Also, the consistency of the plug, splitter, and slider could be better,
especially for the slider. While the other parts used are carbon and silver
plating, the slider uses a transparent plastic seems to be inconsistent compared
with the other parts. Also using a carbon pattern with this target market seem
to be a bit hardcore, in my opinion, a bit risky move on their part. I think
just the silver plating would have done the trick, making the whole presentation
of the cable nice and elegant.
Packaging:
The packaging at this price point is pretty decent. It includes what
you would expect in terms of accessories.
The quality of the case is sturdy, nothing special about the design. On
the other hand, I like the presentation of the packaging which uses actual product photography on the
cover. The composition and font style with the description is neat and
comfortable. It is a clear way to present the product and for this price range, you don't really need something artistic like what I did back then for Kinera with
the Odin and Nanna. Sometimes a simple presentation with a more commercial
design pattern might even be more productive for the dealer in selling. However,
there is a tiny flaw on the back of the cover,
the FR chart only gives you a basic idea of how the frequency looks but
it doesn't really tell you anything since it doesn't have a grid and numbers
on it. Might possibly be a mistake during printing procedure as it is rare to
see an FR chart with just a curve on it.
Aesthetic Conclusion:
With just a 75usd product, everything is above average with regards
to aesthetics, unless you are really picky and comparing it with something
beyond the price tag. After all, it does all come down to cost. With a simple but
not boring look, a decent braided cable and nicely done package, the whole
presentation is fair enough. I believe Shozy has a clear focus on balancing
their style and marketing along with their formula of making their product line
more consistent and memorable.
Ratings (Ratings are relative to the price range):
Colour: 4/5
Craftmanship: 4.5/5
Design details: 3.5/5
Silhouette: 4/5
Cable: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
Sound Conclusion:
The Form 1.1 is by no means perfect. At this price point there are compromises that always have to be made, but what makes the Form 1.1 so appealing as a product is that it blends together enough strengths that together they make up for many of the deficiencies that it has. Shozy has leveraged its higher-tiered products and allowed the Form to have a shell whose design and quality is rarely found at this price, and coupled it with a sound that has enough punch and energy to create a musicality and engagement that often has users looking beyond its technical flaws. It's something relatively affordable that practically anyone can jam on. And while it's not flawless, the total package it provides is hard to beat.
Sound 4/5
Overall: 4/5
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