Sound Review by Kzw
Disclaimer: I99 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 review in order to achieve an accurate representation of the product.
TL;DR |
Not Recommended if you like: |
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Recommended if you like: |
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Introduction:
Today, I'll be reviewing the highly ambitious release of the 7Hz I99; a flagship offering from a young chi-fi brand. Known for its previous affordable release, the 7hz i77, the I99 takes a huge leap in price, placing itself in the mid-range flagship market. Modeled after the widely acclaimed Beyerdynamic Xelento, I99 is looking to dethrone some big names in the industry. But has I99 bitten more than it could chew> Available at **
Pros | Cons |
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Specification:
- 13.8mm beryllium dynamic driver
- Frequency Response Range: 20- 20,000 Hz
- Impedance: 25 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 118dB
- Distortion Rate:below 0.2%
Gear Used & Tracklist:
Sony Walkman NW-A105| Aune X1s | Xduoo X20 | Periodic Audio Nickel (Ni) | Detonray DTR-1 | LG G6 |Genres | Artist | Songs |
Live Recordings | Diana Krall | Desperado (Live) |
Natalia Lafourcade | Soledad y El Mar | |
Case Lang Veirs | Atomic Number | |
Depeche Mode | Question of Lust (Live 1998) | |
Instrumentals | Max Richter | On the Nature of Daylight |
Santa Esmeralda | Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood | |
Nils Frahm | Toilet Brushes (Live) | |
Jazz | Bill Evans | A Waltz for Debbie |
Chet Baker | I'm a Fool to Want You | |
Sons of Kemet | Your Queen is Harriet Tubman | |
Ryo Fukui | Scenery | |
Rock | Avenged Sevenfold | Nightmare |
The Stooges | Down On The Street | |
Avenged Sevenfold | Unbound (The Wild Ride) | |
Guns N’ Roses | Sweet Child O’ Mine | |
Ozzy Osbourne | Crazy Train | |
Green Day | 21 Guns | |
Classical | Niccolò Paganini | La Campanella (From Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor) |
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | The Year 1812 Solemn Overture | |
David Arnold | Independence Day | |
Pop | Hu Yang-Lin (胡楊林) | Perfume is poisonous (香水有毒) |
Fish Leong (梁靜茹) | Love Song (情歌) | |
Western Pop | Anamanaguchi | MEOW |
Iamamiwhoami | Chasing Kites | |
Algiers | Dispossession | |
New Order | Bizzare Love Triangle (Extended Mix) | |
Marian Hill | Breathe Into Me | |
Tyler, The Creator | EARFQUAKE | |
Tones and I | Never Seen the Rain | |
Red Hot Chili Peppers | Around the World | |
ACG | Saori Hayami | オレンジミント (Orange Mint) |
RADWIMPS | 前前前世 (Zenzenzenzense) | |
RADWIMPS | なんでもないや(Nandemonaiya) | |
DAOKO | Cinderella Step | |
Kana Hanazawa | 恋愛サーキュレーション (Renai Circulation) |
Unboxing:
The 7Hz i99 comes encased in a beautiful wooden display case.Under its front lid, the earphones are stowed safely in the foam inserts, alongside a rounded leather case with brass detailing, multiple silicon eartips in varied sizes (S,M,L) and a silver-plated copper cable. Given its ambitious price point, the entire package far surpasses my expectations, rivaling its American and European competitors in the North. A stunning effort by 7Hz.
Scalability:
Given its high sensitivity, the 7Hz i99 is easily driven from most sources without many changes to its characteristic tonality. It retains its signature across all the devices I paired it with, and it doesn't deviate much when paired with my most powerful amplifier, the Aune X1s.
Fit:
The 7hz I99 shells boast a mirror-polish, kaleidoscopic finish. Unfortunately, it has already retained a few hairline scratches. Nevertheless, its metal shells inspire confidence in product longevity, while its long spout sits snugly in my ears when paired with adequately sized eartips. The cables are flexible and conform well to the outer earlobes, and its terminations are reinforced with ample strain relief to avoid unwanted tugs or pulls.
Unfortunately, the shells themselves are incredibly hefty, and its weight started to be a discomforting experience during lengthy listening sessions. Its ability to isolate is heavily contravened by the large number of vents behind each shell, resulting in wind noise constantly detracting from my "on-the-go" listening sessions.
Overlooking those small problems, the i99 ticks many of the right boxes. a positive one.
Unfortunately, the shells themselves are incredibly hefty, and its weight started to be a discomforting experience during lengthy listening sessions. Its ability to isolate is heavily contravened by the large number of vents behind each shell, resulting in wind noise constantly detracting from my "on-the-go" listening sessions.
Overlooking those small problems, the i99 ticks many of the right boxes. a positive one.
Sound Signature | |
A focused and articulate sound signature with a high level of resolving capability. | Thundering mid-bass with an aggressive mid-range The i99 has a lively signature that focuses on the lower ends of the spectrum, with the mid-range and low-end taking precedence over the highs. |
Lows | |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Tyler, The Creator - EARFQUAKE
Tyler, The Creator - EARFQUAKE
EARFQuake's distinct bass drop is a brain rattling experience, with an in-your-face bass punch with ample amounts of reverb. However, it clouds Tyler's vocal section and any semblance of backing synths are lost in the entire mix, mired by its low-end focus.
Mids | |
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Cons |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Alex Cameron- Divorce
Alex Cameron- Divorce
Alex Cameron's raspy voice is represented decently well on the i99, but the "s" notes in the song are overly emphasized, resulting in early fatigue on longer listening sessions. The lower-mids lack body to keep the entire track weighted. The overblown bass region drowns alot of the smaller details in the upper-midrange.
Highs | |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Iamamiwhoami- Chasing Kites
Iamamiwhoami- Chasing Kites
The i99 wasn't tuned to focus on the highs as its prominent feature, but it gives Jonna Lee's vocals a fair representation, punctuated by the airy sound of blaring synths. However, it simply lacks enough energy or verve to be considered detailed at its steeper price point.
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Cons |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Dry the River- Shaker Hymns (Acoustic)
Dry the River- Shaker Hymns (Acoustic)
The I99's large dynamic driver displays vast potential in its ability to handle busier tracks, with a large mix of vocals and instruments being managed well. Unfortunately, the recurring bass-problem mitigates its ability to distinguish each instrument from the next, despite its extensive lateral width
Separation | |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Santa Esmeralda- Please don't let me be misunderstood
Santa Esmeralda- Please don't let me be misunderstood
Like the previous issue, the contentious bass-line strikes again, harming the i99's ability to readily identify audible cues and instruments from vocals. Staging is placed in the foreground, bass at the forefront.
Musicality | |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Anamanaguchi- Prom Night
Anamanaguchi- Prom Night
Unsurprisingly, tracks with stabby synth lines, punctuated by cascading kickdrums sound spectacular on the I99. But, the shoutiness of the upper-mids and its scathing treble quickly wears your ears down. The i99 lacks the flexibility to pair itself well with many genres.
Vocal Performance | |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Case Lang Veirs- Atomic Number
Case Lang Veirs- Atomic Number
I99's upper-mids and its unabashed forwardness lends itself well to higher-pitched vocals. However, it tends to overstay its welcome with its enervating forwardness
Instrumental Performance | |
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Reference Tracks / Remarks:
Sons of Kemet- Play Mass
Sons of Kemet- Play Mass
The i99 has the technical capability to reproduce instruments with above-average clarity, but it doesn't quite meet flagship expectations. The baritone saxophone in the reference track while clear, has a brash quality to it that is poorly represented, where its sharpest peaks are exacerbated by the i99's wonky timbre.
Overall Sound Performance | |
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Remarks:
Comparison Chart | |||||||
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. | |||||||
7Hz I99 | Shozy Phantom | ||||||
Suggested Retail Price | $479.99 | $450.00 | |||||
Driver Configuration | 17.8mm Dynamic Driver | Dynamic Driver | |||||
Scalability | Mobile/Dongle Friendly | Mobile/Dongle Friendly | |||||
Fitting | Snug, but slightly heavy. | Snug and Lightweight | |||||
Comfort | Very Good | Very Good | |||||
Sound Signature | Aggressive midrange with thunderous bass | Dark, velvety mid-range | |||||
Lows | Pulsating mid-bass bloat | Thick, full with balanced weight between the mid-lower bass regions | |||||
Mids | Sharp upper-mids, gentle lower-mids | Full and engaging midrange. | |||||
Highs | Decent detail retrieval, but rolls off | Rolls off early to avoid sibilance | |||||
Soundstage | Open and wide staging. | Open and wide staging | |||||
Separation | Average imaging due to excessive mid-bass | Great imaging, easily distinguishable between vocals and instruments. | |||||
Remarks | Very attractive proposition for fans of an aggressive, forward sounding signature | An attractive offer for people who favor a dark, "organic" listen. |
Conclusion:
The i99 has many technical capabilities, but its niche sound-signature doesn't quite hit the mark as a flagship iem. A few refinements are needed to really elevate the i99 as a true market contender. However, I still remain deeply impressed by 7Hz's courage in trying out something new.
The i99 has many technical capabilities, but its niche sound-signature doesn't quite hit the mark as a flagship iem. A few refinements are needed to really elevate the i99 as a true market contender. However, I still remain deeply impressed by 7Hz's courage in trying out something new.
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*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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