• Driver Unit: 10 mm Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Sensitivity: 20-40000Hz
• Headphone Plug: 3.5mm Golden Type
• Weight: 35 grams

The Urban Fun ISS014 comes in a plain, black box. Upon removing the lid, the contents displayed are as follow; a generic, round IEM case, a tin-case with foam tips inside, several silicone ear-tips and the earphones themselves.

While the package might sound sparse, it is to be expected, given the reasonable price-tag. Nothing is missing, and the usual suspects are provided as per usual

The Urbanfun ISS014 is remarkably easy to drive, and amplification is unnecessary. It is incredibly sensitive, and pairs well with most sources without any distinct or large variations in sound quality.

On the Venture Electronics Odyssey, the Urban Fun ISS014 displayed little to no hiss, and it reached my ideal listening volume at approximately 40% (of the max) on my Google Pixel 2XL.

On my the Aune X1s, the ideal listening volume was reached by turning the volume knob upwards of about a millimetre; as you can tell, the Urban Fun ISS014 was designed for low-power output sources.

Changes are minute, and I could only see a change in resolution with the AUNE X1s, no thanks to its superior DAC/OPamp and grounding.

Don’t be fooled by the metallic shells; they may look heavy, but they actually wear really light on the ears. Weighing at a measly 85 grams, the ISS014 sits snugly in my inner ear canal, with little to no discomfort (as I sit here, writing this review). The stem is of adequate length, resulting in a tight fit that doesn’t displace easily from my usual “head-shake test”. There are no sharp or coarse protrusions; the shells are immaculately finished and feel much more premium when compared to its attractive price-tag.

The cables are braided but twisted, resulting in a cable reminiscent of the Campfire Audio Litz cables equipped on their newer offerings, such as the IO. The twisting results in little to no microphonics, and it is supple enough so as to not retain kinks or unwanted bends that make it hard to stow away in the provided case.

I’m usually seated right in front of my fan, and the Urban Fun ISS014 barely picks up any wind-noise. The miniscule vent is played beside the spout of the earphone, and it isolates really well, even in noisier conditions.

Overall, I am duly impressed by both the fit and finish of the ISS014.

Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Tyler the Creator- Earfquake
Desire- Bizarre Love Triangle (Cover) 

The Urbanfun's bass-response is lively, and it digs deep in the mid-bass regions. Unfortunately, that enthusiasm does not carry over into the sub-bass; it doesn't reverberate as expected when listening to trap-heavy beats. A v-shaped signature is tailored to complement music with heavily synthesized production standards. The Urbanfun's laidback response clearly favors harmony (on paper, at least) amongst all the core frequencies. The beryllium, dynamic driver is clearly being put to good work.

Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Natalia Lafourcade- Soledad Y El Mar
Destroyer- The River  

In admittance, those criticisms stated above were minor nitpicks; I am enamored by the mid-range response of this tiny but mighty earphone. It ticks all the right boxes; it has an accurate timbre, it is neither peaky nor sharp and the interplay between the upper and lower mids is perfectly balanced to my ears. However, vocals might sounds slightly further away; after all, it is still a v-shaped signature.

Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Natalia Lafourcade- Nunca Es Sufficiente
John Coltrane-Blues Train 

I found it quite difficult to critique the highs here. My only gripe here is the lack of bite; it doesn't need to be completely smooth. Some forwardness and energy is needed here for it to sound spectacular. It's so close, but it isn't quite there yet.

Reference Tracks / Remarks:
John Frusciante- Murderers 

Like all other earphones in the sub-$100 market, it doesn't do a bad job at recreating a cohesive soundscape. But, it isn't a standout feature for sure. It hits all the right markers, but it fails to surpass them.

Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Santa Esmeralda- Please don't let me be Misunderstood  

The Urbanears are no slouch when it comes to positional cues. The placement of each vocal or instrumental cue is easily differentiated with little effort. However, don't expect "balanced armature" like separation; it lacks that "faux", multi-driver split characteristic. What we have here, is a coherent iem that manages crowded tracks decently well (this is no top-of-the-line, flagship).

Reference Tracks / Remarks:
New Order- The Perfect Kiss
Townes Van Zandt- Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel  

To surmise this section, the mid-range has a tonality that pairs well with many genres of music, from Americana (with that luscious twang of an acoustic guitar) to New-wave (think New Order and waterline synths). However, it is a jack of all trades that aims to satisfy most tastes. It excels in everything, but doesn't specialize in anything. Take of that what you will.

The Urbanfun's, as its namesake suggests, is boatloads of fun to listen to with a multitude of genres, both old and modern. By sound-merit alone, the ISS014 could stand vis-a-vis, against its pricier counterparts. I foresee myself placing the Urbanfun ISS014 in my current circulation of daily drivers.

*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.