HIBY YVAIN: Daring Neutral Sounding One
Yvain or Ywain is one of the prominent knights of King Arthur and part of the fellowship of Knights Of The Round Table. He is also known as the Knight of the Lion and known to be an adventurous person as he is enthralled with chivalric exploits like saving a lion from a dragon that earn its loyalty and companionship as they both defeat giants, demons and other knights.
What I have here is a latest IEM model that carries the name of that Arthurian character. This is HiBy Yvain, it's an all-balanced armature driver IEM that was encapsulated in a composite shell chassis with a modular cable set-up. This model somewhat to be more of an affordable version of HiBy Crystal 6 Mk.II in which I did a review a few months ago.
Regarding its internal components, it has four balanced armature drivers sourced from reputable audio solutions like Knowles and Sonion. The BA woofer which will be use solely on bass is a Knowles one which will give a deeper bass response, while a dual set-up full range BA is a custom Sonion in which gives more natural tone, exceptional detail and crisper sound on vocals and instruments, and then on the HF BA tweeter, it uses the latest generation of Knowles “Hi-Res” tweeter for shimmer, clarity and more airy extension on tonal colours on specific instruments.
Aside from using premium balanced armatures, it also implemented a 3-way electronic crossover for better separation and more precise tuning on its overall frequency range along 3-way channel passive acoustic chamber that connected to each balanced armature driver to lessen any distortion and interferences on its sonic performance.
These internal parts and components were encased in a composite shell chassis and it has a modified UIEM-type design to give a comfortable wear and better noise isolation in our lugholes. The cavity base part of the shells are made of hypoallergenic resin material which underwent a 3D-printed process while the faceplates are made of CNC-milled aluminium alloy with a laser-etched print of a lion on the surface. The Yvain uses a 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism which is a standard on aftermarket cable upgrade and also known to be the most stable and reliable type of connector among audio enthusiasts.
The stock cable of HiBy Yvain is a 2-core litz-type OCC pure copper wiring which is insulated with PVC coating for low distortion, less resistance and clarity of sonic output. This cable is also a modular one that we can choose either 3.5mm SE or 4.4mm balanced.
Since this is a review touring unit, there is no packaging box but it only has high quality IEM storage which is quite large and spacious for an IEM.
Here are the following contents inside of Yvain's IEM case:
● Pair of HiBy Yvain IEMs
● Modular stock cable
● 4.4mm balanced adapter
● Three (3) pairs of balanced bore ear tips in different standard sizes.
● Three (3) pairs of memory foam ear tips in different standard sizes.
HiBy Yvain is actually an easy to drive set that scales well even to devices with a decent power output. With proper amplification, it will sound quite vivid and full range that it will encompass the whole frequency spectrum.
As to determine its tonality, HiBy Yvain has a balanced-neutral sound profile as it has a tad tighter yet linear low frequency response and then more emphasis on midrange and high frequencies to have that detail, shimmering and airy response.
LOWS/BASS:
The bass response of Yvain is quite tight, precise and incisive for a woofer BA that is prevalent to IEMs with neutral sound signature. It has an adequate sub-bass presence as it has some reverberations and fairly deep sound generated from synthesisers, low tone bass guitars and drum machines.
Mid-bass quantity of this set is somewhat sufficient as it gives a decent note weight on bass-focus instruments and some male vocals. Bass guitars have resonant and rasping sound while bass kick drum have thudding and a bit rumbling sound from them on every hit, and then on bass-baritone vocals, they appear sound natural though not that dark tone and volume that I expected due to its neutral bass type of tuning but still it has dense sound on them.
MIDRANGE:
This is probably one of the strongest assets of the Yvain as it is well-textured, transparent and clean sounding as it gives a natural tone on both vocals and instruments to sound more engaging, emotive and engaging to our ears.
Male vocals seems an ample warmth on them as baritones have smooth and lush sound, while tenors have strong, clear and dazzling sound on them from heldentenors up to leggero tenors, and then on countertenors, they have these smooth, tender and bright sound on them that we are quite familiar with. On female vocals, contraltos have those distinctive rich and smoky sound from them, mezzo-sopranos have golden and velvety sound that really captivates my ears and sopranos sounds very gleaming and quite a crystalline one due to some emphasis on the midrange up to upper midrange to give that energetic tuning.
As for instruments, strings like guitars and violins have a bright, crisp and vibrant sound on them while on the woodwinds like piccolos, concert flutes and clarinets, they sound clear, ethereal and dramatic respectively. On brasses, trumpets have rounded sound, while horns have resounding and full sound and then on trombones, they have eruptive and penetrating sound. As for percussive instruments, snares have hard and precise sound on them, tom-toms sound quite rich and resonant sound, field drums have full and sonorous, and then on kettledrums have resonant yet mellow sound. Pianos seems to have a well-balanced sound as it has both an enough warmth and at the same time, it has a bright tone.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
The treble response of this one is somehow smooth and it has ample brightness to give definition and detail on female vocals and instrument attacks due to slightly accentuated upper mids to the presence part of the treble region. Sibilance is well-controlled and not a hint of strident and jarring sound.
As for instruments, cymbals sound rather lustrous and soughing while hi-hats have those particular shortened buzzing sounds. Glockenspiels have bell-like and lustrous sound on either mallet or keyboard-type ones that give more liveliness in the percussive mallet section in an orchestra, and then celestas have sweet and mellow sound to give that distinctive resonance sound. The brilliance treble has a satisfactory sparkle but the airiness is rather moderate on treble extension.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
The HiBy Yvain presents a quite spacious headstage within my aural sphere as I really perceived a wide lateral width span, fairly tall height ceiling and good depth of distance from front to rear. Its stereo imaging projects a concave-like stereo presentation where I was able to pinpoint the exact location of instruments and singers. It has a good separation of instruments and well-organised layers of tonal and frequency tones in a sonic canvas.
The cohesiveness of multi-BA configuration has a fast transient response that these drivers are quite competent to deliver a crisp and clear sound output. Resolution capabilities of this set is excellent as it has a solid macro-dynamics but the micro-detail retrieval seems to have a less sharper definition but at least not blunted or too soft.
PEER COMPARISONS:
SEE AUDIO BRAVERY RED
● Like the Yvain, it is also an all-BA driver configuration and it also uses premium balanced armature drivers like Knowles and Sonion. The modular stock cable was provided by a premium cable maker, Hakugei. The inclusion of this one is quite plentiful for a set in this price range.
● As for tonal aspect, The BRAVERY is more of a warmish-neutral sound as it has punchy bass response, textured, ample warmth and detailed midrange and then, a smooth and quite airy treble extension.
● Regarding its technical aspect, it has an above-average sound field dimensions, an atmospheric stereo imaging with good separation and well-organised layers of frequencies and dynamic tones of each instrument and vocals. It has excellent resolution capabilities as both macro-dynamics and micro-dynamics are well presented with solid dynamics and good detail retrieval.
AUDIOSENSE DT600
● Another set with an all-balanced armature drivers set-up in a solid, medical-grade resin shell chassis in a UIEM-style form factor. All of its balanced armature drivers are made of premium Knowles drivers and it uses a MMCX connector as its detachable mechanism. AUDIOSENSE included a high quality Pelican-like IEM storage case and it has many types of ear tips to choose from.
● DT600 is a neutral sounding set and if you use an impedance adapter, it will give a more U-shaped sound signature. It has punchy and precise bass response, a transparent, clean and energetic midrange, then a smooth and sufficiently bright treble quality.
● Like the Yvain, The DT600 has excellent technical capabilities like a fairly spacious sound/speaker stage, good stereo imaging as I was able to locate the placement of instruments and vocals along with good separation and layering on them. It also has a good macro-dynamics and a sharp detail retrieval as it extracts some nuances and subtleties from the played audio track.
As I conclude my review about this set, it appears that HiBy delivers a very competent set with reference tuning that will please the ears of both casual and critical listeners along with its remarkable technical capabilities. The Yvain is an IEM that truly deserves an accolade to be one of the best sets out there. If you are looking for a neutral sounding set with good clarity and quite detailed at under $250/£200, then this is indeed a perfect recommendation for you.
HiBy Yvain is now available at HiBy's official online store, check out the link below:
LINK: https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-yvain
And also check out my reviews of other HiBy products.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: HIBY YVAIN
IMPEDANCE: 23Ω
SENSITIVITY: 116dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78mm)
PLUG TYPE: MODULAR 3.5mm, 4.4mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (3) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS
PROS:
● The composite shell chassis of this set is quite sturdy yet light.
● Good passive noise isolation
● Gorgeous-looking laser etched lion design on its aluminium faceplate.
● Modular stock cable.
● High quality IEM storage case.
● Pricing of this set is somehow justifiable for its tonal and technical performance.
● Balanced-neutral sounding one.
● Punchy and precise bass response
● Excellent midrange quality, well-textured and energetic vocals and natural tonality on almost all types of instruments.
● Smooth, balanced and vibrant treble response.
● Good separation and layering.
● On par resolution capabilities to some sets in a more pricey segment.
CONS:
● Looking for a more coloured tonality? then this one is not for you.
● Sorry bassheads, this set isn't for you as this will not give you a very satisfying bass response that you really want.
● Might be too linear and flat sounding to some listeners.
● Not the most dynamic sounding one if you are well-accustomed to the sounds of some sets in a dynamic driver configuration.
Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
P.S.
I am not affiliated to HIBY nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to JOSEPH YEUNG for providing this unit for HIBY review tour here in the Philippines. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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