Sound Review by Kzw
Disclaimer: Shozy has graciously provided us with this sample unit
in exchange for an honest review. The views discussed below are a reflection of
Project A3's thoughts surrounding the product. The sample has been run-in
for at least 50 hours prior to reviewing in order to achieve an accurate
representation of the product.
The TLDR:
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The following item is NOT recommended if you like:
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Neutral/Reference Lover
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Treble-head
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Enjoys a forward sound signature
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The
following item is RECOMMENDED if
you like:
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Lush/Smooth Lover
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Fatigue-free sound
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Enjoys a laidback sound signature
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Introduction:
Shozy, in the eyes of many an audiophile, is a Chinese company with a
pedigree, known for its budget-tier releases, ranging from the cult classic,
“Zero” to their recent collaborative project with AAW (Advanced Acoustic
Werkes), the exorbitantly priced “Pola39”. Based on their past product
launches, Shozy has the credentials to back their claims up.
In the recent months, Shozy has been toying around with a multiplicity
of concept IEMs’ that have yet to make their debut in the portable-audio
marketplace (be sure to follow Project A3 for the latest “Shozy related”
reviews).
Today, we’ll be reviewing the Form 1.4; the titular successor to their
budget phenome which shares its namesake, the Form 1.1. With an addition of 3
additional balanced armatures to its current array of 1 balanced armature and 1
beryllium-coated dynamic driver in the Form 1.1. The difference in price,
however, isn’t a monumental leap; it’s only $100 USD more, at $199 USD. Based
on what’s under the hood, its massive driver-array alone is enough to sell
itself as a value proposition.
However, sound is king; and the Form’s 1.4 specifications means nothing
in the grand of scheme of things, if it isn’t tuned right.
Will the Form 1.4 improve upon its little sibling, the Form 1.1? Or
will it tarnish Shozy’s pristine ledger of successful releases? Available at Linsoul
Audio.
PROS
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Impeccably finished shells, with an extravagant
wood faceplate
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High-quality, cloth-braided cable
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Mid-rich signature that
sounds remarkably analog-like
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Lower-mids are thick and weighted
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Highs start to roll-off early on
● Scooped out upper-mids that results in a drop in resolution
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Specifications:
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Driver: 4BA + dynamic
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Cavity: imported medical resin 3D print
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Faceplate: Imported stabilized panel
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Technology: 3-way crossover
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Sensitivity: 102db
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Frequency: 20 Hz-20KHz
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Impedance: 16ohm
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Cable: 2pin 0.78mm
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Plug: 3.5mm
Gear Used & Tracklist:
Onkyo
DP-X1 | Sony NW-A105 | Aune X1S | Periodic Audio Nickel (Ni) |
Genres
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Artist
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Songs
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Live Recordings
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Diana Krall
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Desperado (Live)
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Natalia
Lafourcade
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Soledad y El Mar
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Case Lang Veirs
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Atomic Number
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Depeche Mode
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Question of Lust
(Live 1998)
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Instrumentals
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Max Richter
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On the Nature of
Daylight
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Santa Esmeralda
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Please Don't Let
Me Be Misunderstood
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Nils Frahm
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Toilet Brushes
(Live)
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Jazz
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Bill Evans
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A Waltz for Debbie
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Chet Baker
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I'm a Fool to
Want You
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Sons of Kemet
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Your Queen is
Harriet Tubman
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Ryo Fukui
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Scenery
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Rock
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Avenged
Sevenfold
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Nightmare
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The Stooges
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Down On The
Street
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Avenged
Sevenfold
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Unbound (The
Wild Ride)
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Guns N’ Roses
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Sweet Child O’ Mine
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Ozzy Osbourne
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Crazy Train
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Green Day
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21 Guns
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Classical
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Niccolò Paganini
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La Campanella
(From Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor)
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Pyotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky
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The Year 1812
Solemn Overture
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David Arnold
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Independence Day
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Pop
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Hu Yang-Lin (胡楊林)
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Perfume is
poisonous (香水有毒)
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Fish Leong (梁靜茹)
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Love Song (情歌)
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Western Pop
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Anamanaguchi
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MEOW
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Iamamiwhoami
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Chasing Kites
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Algiers
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Dispossession
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New Order
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Bizzare Love
Triangle (Extended Mix)
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Marian Hill
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Breathe Into Me
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Tyler, The
Creator
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EARFQUAKE
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Tones and I
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Never Seen the
Rain
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Red Hot Chili
Peppers
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Around the World
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ACG
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Saori Hayami
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オレンジミント (Orange
Mint)
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RADWIMPS
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前前前世
(Zenzenzenzense)
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RADWIMPS
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スパークル(Sparkle)
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DAOKO
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Cinderella Step
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Kana Hanazawa
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恋愛サーキュレーション (Renai
Circulation)
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Unboxing:
The Form 1.4 comes in a tiny cardboard box, one which appears to lack
the capacity to hold most of its contents. To my surprise, the hard case takes
up the entirety of the box. The case itself could easily hold two pairs of
earphones without breaking a sweat. Inside the case, we have a few pairs of
silicon ear tips in your standard sizes, ranging from S to L. stored inside a
zip-lock bag.
Considering the stiff competition faced by the Form 1.4, a more
enticing package that values quantity AND quality in its accessories offering
would’ve been greatly appreciated by yours truly. But I will commend Shozy for
including an oversized case; one that allows me to stow my Shanling M0 away,
alongside the Form 1.4.
Scalability:
The Form 1.4 is easily driven out of all the sources that I currently
have on hand, carrying its strikingly “dark” signature. Balanced armatures are
known for being high efficiency, low mechanical loads. In this case, there are
no exceptions to that hard and fast rule.
On my Sony Walkman NW-A105, I left the volume at a moderate level of
50/100 steps to reach a listening volume that I’m comfortable with.
Like other earphones I have reviewed prior to the Form 1.4, the Aune
X1S DAC/Amp effortlessly drives the Form 1.4. with the potentiometer placed a
minute away from the 6 O’clock neutral position.
Any audible changes across sources were barely noticed or
imperceptible.
Overall, the Form 1.4 doesn’t scale much, if not at all. But it is an
efficient earphone that doesn’t require much power for it to truly sing.
Fit:
The Form 1.4’s form factor follows the ubiquitous universal mold that
has been accepted as an industry standard. The shells feature an exotic,
stabilized wooden faceplate, juxtaposed by contrasting swirls of tan and
burgundy. It looks extraordinary. Its nice to see manufacturers kicking their
standards up a notch, even for products in the sub-$200 range. The shells are
lacquered and finished with finesse; the seam between the faceplate and shell
is nowhere to be found, as I trace my finger alongside it.
The contours of the shell sit well in my ear with zero discomfort. The
length of the earphone’s spout sits snugly in my ear with a pair of
medium-sized silicon ear-tips. There are no sharp protrusions or rough edges on
the shells themselves.
The Form 1.4 features a standard 2-pin IEM termination, allowing for
seamless cable-rolling.
The included cloth-braided cables are supple and easily malleable,
preventing unwanted kinks or bends from forming. However, the sheathing is
prone to microphonics, especially when you’re walking outside, where the
friction generated from the cable rubbing against your clothes can prove to be
an unnecessary distraction.
The metal-end cap at the back of the shell, which is the vent, to my
surprise, doesn’t pick up on much ambient noise from its surroundings. Wind
noise wasn’t too much of my problem on the daily commute.
So far, the Form 1.4 ticks all the right boxes.
Sound Signature
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Thick, Lush and “Analog-esque”
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Dark, Warm and analogue, the Form 1.4 sounds
vaguely inspired by the polarizing sound signature of the Audioquest
Nighthawk.
The Form 1.4 sounds particularly dense, favoring a
relaxed mid-range with a boosted lower-mid floor. This is what I would
consider the perfect “grab and go” earphone.
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Lows
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Pros:
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• Mid-bass is well controlled, with a speedy decay
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• Thick sub-bass rumble, but it doesn’t bleed into the mids
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• Good air displacement and weight from the dynamic driver
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Cons:
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• Not neutral, nor is it a “bass head” signature
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• Isn’t incredibly exciting or dynamic
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Tyler the
Creator- Earfquake
The Shoes-
Time to Dance
The bass
displays great control and restraint, but it errs on the side of “safe”. It
lacks excitement and dynamism, which one expects from a beryllium driver.
However, it falls in line with the over-arching, analog-esque sound signature
that Shozy was gunning for here.
Mids
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Pros:
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• Lower-mids are thick, weighted and carries ample body
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• Sounds incredibly warm and relaxed, focusing on “even harmonic
warmth”
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• An alluring signature that harkens back to an “analog era”
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Cons:
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• Scooped upper-mids
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• Safe signature results in a lack of detail in the upper registers
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• Vocals are placed a bit further back in the mix
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
The Raconteurs-
Help me, Stranger
Rich, thick and succulent; these are
the adjectives I would use to surmise the mids. But the conservative signature
has resulted in a upper-mid section that lacks energy or enthusiasm; it can
oftentimes results in vocals sounding distant and further back in the mix.
Highs
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Pros:
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• Inoffensive highs that avoids
peaks and harshness
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• Carries enough detail without sounding muted
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• Transitions smoothly from the upper-mids
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Cons:
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• Plays it a bit too safe, lacking forwardness
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• Lacks shimmer or sparkle
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Iamamiwhoami-
Chasing Kites
As mentioned earlier, the transition
from the upper-mids to the highs is a smooth one; an overly smooth one. If you
enjoy a sound signature that virulently detests the notion of “sibilance”, the
Form 1.4 still carries ample detail in the higher registers. However, this is a
textbook example of playing it too safe. It simply needs to be more daring. What
gives the Form 1.4 its character at the same time, is what hampers its ability
to truly shine.
Soundstage
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Pros:
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• Above-average, lateral width
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• Cueing of instruments and vocals are decently accurate
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• -
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Cons:
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• Can sound congested on
busier tracks
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Santa
Esmeralda- Please don’t let me be misunderstood
Despite my
criticisms here, do take it with a grain of salt; this is a $150 USD earphone,
not a flagship product.
Separation
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Pros:
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• Good imaging capabilities
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• Separation of instruments and vocals is good
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• Instruments with different harmonic characteristics are
differentiated well
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Cons:
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• There is still significant overlap between vocals and
instrumentation
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• As mentioned earlier, it can sound congested on busier tracks
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Santa
Esmeralda- Please don’t let me be misunderstood
The Form 1.4 proves to be a
formidable earphone, managing to untangle the reference track, which is a
cavernous wall of noise coming from all directions. It put up a good fight, but
eventually, the entirety of the mix is just too much for it to handle.
Musicality
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Pros:
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• Excels with reverb-soaked recordings
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• Acoustic instruments sound timbre-accurate
from the lower-mids emphasis
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Cons:
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• Lacks shimmer or
excitement with brass instruments
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• Female Vocals can sound
distant, lacking in extension and clarity
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Reference Tracks / Remarks :
Natalia
Lafourcade- Soledad Y El Mar
Sons of Kemet-
Play Mass, Your Queen is Harriet Tubman
By nature of
the Form 1.4’s cloyingly sweet mid-range, restrained songs with an even
harmonic emphasis, such as “Soledad Y El Mar” is further complemented by the
Form 1.4’s signature, recreating a “cabin-like”, intimate experience.
However,
jazz-instrumentals or songs with a screechy, instrumentals that favor
odd-harmonics sound both cold and distant; it simply lacks clarity.
Comparison
Chart
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How we compare: We chose other similarly priced earphones or similar
offerings from the same brand that Project A3 has reviewed in
the past, to ensure that we remain as impartial as possible in our comparisons.
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Shozy Form 1.4
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Moondrop Kxxs
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Shuoer Tape
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BQEYZ Spring 1
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Suggested Retail Price
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$199 USD
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$189 USD
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$129 USD
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$139 USD
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Driver Configuration
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4 Balanced armatures, 1 Beryllium-coated Dynamic
Driver
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1 DLC Dynamic
Driver
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1 Low voltage, Electrostatic driver
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1 Balanced Armature, 1 Electrostatic driver and 1 Dynamic
driver
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Mobile/Dongle friendly
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Mobile/Dongle friendly
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DAP suggested
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DAP Suggested
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Fitting
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Snug and lightweight
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Snug but heavy
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Snug and lightweight
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Lightweight
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Comfort
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Excellent
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Good
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Excellent
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Very Good
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Sound Signature
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Dark, lower-mid rich signature
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Mild V-Shape
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Incredibly accurate mids, heavy treble emphasis
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Light V-Shape, sweet treble, warmish mids
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Lows
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Speedy mid-bass but slubby sub-bass, with a slower
decay
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Fast mid-bass but realistic
sub-bass decay. Slightly elevated bass response
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Soft-bass response, more sub-bass than mid-bass.
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Deep but light sub-bass, slightly forward mid-bass
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Mids
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Engaging, “analog” sounding midrange, with a
lower-mid boost
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Not so prominent
lower mids, similar upper-mid response to the IT01s
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Incredibly clear midrange, slightly heavier focus on upper
mids to lower mids.
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Organic, lower-midrange emphasis, warmish/analogue
midrange
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Highs
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Decent detail with zero harshness, but lacks
forwardness and extension
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Well extended
highs, little to no harshness
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Clear highs, slight brightness
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Rolled off highs, zero harshness
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Soundstage
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Above average horizontal width
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Extremely wide
horizontal width, great positional cues
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Above average horizontal width
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Above average horizontal width
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Separation
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Above average imaging capabilities. Struggles under
musically complex tracks
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Excellent imaging,
vocals, and instruments are incredibly distinct
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Above average imaging capabilities. Struggles under
musically complex tracks
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Good imaging. Slight bass bleed affects separation on
faster tracks
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Remarks
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Suitable for
people looking for an IEM that serves as a callback to the analog era with a bit
more weighting on the lower mids
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A well-rounded earphone that is suited for many listeners, slightly on the neutral side.
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Suitable for consumers who favour clarity and midrange
detail, especially
focusing on upper mids with less bass quantity
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Suitable
as a “grab and go” earphone for many occasions.
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Conclusion
The Shozy Form 1.4 makes me reminisce
of an analog age that favored the noise and surface crackle of a needle
tracking the grooves of a vinyl record. Yes, it isn’t the most detailed
earphone in the market. But that is what makes it is so endearing. In fact, I
found myself investing more listening time into the Form 1.4 simply because of
its aversion to abrasiveness. In the meantime, Shozy has many upcoming products
in the pipeline (*hint hint*).
Be sure to follow Project A3 on Facebook for more reviews*.
*All
ratings are accurate as of date of publication. Changes in price, newer models
may affect Project A3's views on the performance and value of the reviewed
product.
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