ROSESELSA PHOTON PRO: Stubby, Musical and Exciting Sounding

ROSESELSA also known as ROSE TECHNICS is probably one of the most interesting audio companies out there as they offer a wide range of audio products from TWS up to the headphones. I previously did some of their product reviews before, therefore no need to do some introduction about this audio company.

What we have here is ROSESELSA PHOTON PRO and this is their latest budget-friendly entry-level offering and unlike other IEMs that have a UIEM-style shell chassis, this one is more of bullet-style format which is quite uncommon. And like the majority of the sets with this type of IEM shape, it has a single driver configuration with an even smaller transducer but it has an unusual feature that makes this set more of an outlier among its peers in which I will share later on.

This one features an 8mm dynamic driver with a composite diaphragm comprised of PEK (polyetherketone) and PU (polyurethane) which are both thermoplastic materials known for their tensile strength and good electro-chemical resistance that makes them ideal for consistent vibration and less distortion for faster transient response that delivers an impactful lows and clear and crisper mids and highs.

The driver is then encased in a CNC-machined aluminium alloy in a cylindrical shape and it is pretty compact and also quite lightweight that it will definitely offer a comfortable fitting. Another unusual feature that this set has was its detachable cable as it is uncommon on bullet-style IEMs.

With its bullet-style profile, this set will be more versatile to all ear sizes as long as we will find ear tips that pair well to secure a better fitting into our lugholes. And if we achieve that proper sealing into our ears, we will have that excellent passive noise isolation as it blocks unwanted noises from the outside.

The stock cable of this one is pretty decent for the PHOTON PRO's asking price as the cable has a carbon-fabric insulator sheath on its silver-plated copper wiring for a lossless audio signal transmission for a pure sound output. And aside from its overall build, it also has a built-in HD microphone with button keys on its console consisting of volume up, play/pause and volume down which is used for voice communication and basic command on its playback media interface in which ROSESELSA also marketed this one for gaming. It has a gold-plated 3.5mm single-ended plug on its end and ROSESELSA also offers a type-C as an optional interface input although I don't know if there is a DSP Hi-Fi chip on it.

Another thing that this set has was its product packaging on how pretty compact its packaging box was that its minimal contents inside were well-organised in a rather tight compartment.

These are following contents that were included inside of its packaging box:

Pair of ROSESELSA PHOTON PRO transducer pieces.
Stock cable (already attached on transducer pieces)
Four (4) pairs of wide bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
Shirt clip
User's manual

When it comes to amplification, most of the sets that I have tested in a bullet-type shell chassis with a smaller size dynamic driver were quite finicky when it comes to power output requirement that will drive them at optimal level, and PHOTON PRO also have this case too that makes them a bit harder to drive. Either you need to increase the volume at high level or a better amplifier with stronger power gain output, those are the only options that will be able to drive this set up to its fullest performance as we hear its dynamic and full range sound.

When it comes to tonal profile, the PHOTON PRO is indeed a V-shaped sound signature as it has more elevated lows and highs with a sufficient warm and bright tonality on it that delivers a fun tuning for listening pleasure.

LOWS/BASS:

Quite punchy, tactile and full given that it has a small dynamic driver that makes this set quite impressive on its bass quality. I also noticed that it has some slight mid bass but it is still controlled and defined so that it won't sound too muddy.

It has more emphasis on the mid bass texture than its sub bass presence but we will be able to feel those reverberations that were produced by synthesisers, drum machines and string ones like low tuned bass guitars and double-basses. As for mid bass texture, it has a sufficient body and depth for the sonorous sound on bass guitars, a fullness and weighty sound on double basses, and a thudding sound on bass kick drum. Also on low octave male vocals, both basses and bass-baritones have a rich and ample depth on them to sound relatively dense and dusky.

MIDRANGE:

While the midrange of this one is quite recessed on its overall frequency section, it has a warmth and at the same time, energy to give a satisfying fullness and shimmer on vocals and instruments not to sound too lean and dry sounding.

Male vocals have an ample vocal note weight as baritones sound smooth and warm, while tenors have a brassy and spiciness sound on them, and countertenors have a bit of coppery sound from their falsettos. When it comes to female vocals, contralto have rich and heft from their chesty vocals, mezzo-sopranos have a fiery sound and sopranos have a shining sound albeit it has that metallic tinge of it.

On instruments, while it still has an organic sound of it, this one has a strong tonal colouration on them. As for string ones, guitars have a crisp and sustaining sound, violins have a vibrant sound and cellos have a lustrous sound, while on woodwinds, the concert flutes have clear sound, piccolos have delicate and intense sound and saxophones have an expressive and reedy sound. The brass instruments like trumpets, trombone and horns, in corresponding order, they sound brilliant, full and rounded, and then on percussive instruments, snares have bright and incisive sound, tom-toms have a full and resonant sound and field drums have a sonorous sound. Pianos sound rounded with a vibrant tone on them.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of this one is definitely leaning towards a bright tuning on how it sounds quite gleaming with a moderate air presence. The accentuated peaks between upper mids and presence treble section are able to highlight the clarity and definition on vocal articulation and attack on instruments although they sound quite a bit perfervid as it has an occasional piercing and tinny sound but at least it was able to control down the sibilance.

On its brilliance section, as I mentioned that it has moderate treble extension while it has an intense sparkle as it gives more harmonic presence. Cymbals strike sound brilliant and sizzle with some control on it as it doesn't produce any unnecessary wash-y sound which is ill-defined, messy and harsh, while the hi-hats have that resonating and crisp tone of its distinctive chick-y sound.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

This aspect is pretty interesting on how this set performs on its overall technicalities. The perceived head stage is a bit intimate as it has an average-size but it is quite well-proportionate particularly on height ceiling and depth as it present a concave-like stereo presentation with adequately layered soundscape with good separation of musical elements in which I was able panned out to locate their exact placement within its sonic field. The separation of bass instruments like bass guitars and bass kick drums are so well-defined that I was able to delineate them individually which is quite a feat for a small dynamic driver.

As for its driver coherence, I can certainly express that it doesn't have that fast transient response as I noticed it on the bass response but capable enough to render its attack, decay and sustain along with a clear and crisp sound on other frequency regions. The resolution capabilities of this one is solid for its price and its overall design as it is able to deliver a firm macro-dynamics as it is capable to highlight on differing loudness level from both chorale and instrumental passages, while it has a decent micro-dynamics that it has fairly sharp definition on drawing out micro-details, nuances and grains such as note textures and reverb tails from both vocals and instruments from an audio track.

PEER COMPARISONS:

KZ LINGLONG

It has a bullet-style shell chassis like the PHOTON PRO but a bit elongated and slimmer.
It has a micro dynamic driver of a 6mm size enclosed in a CNC-milled aluminium alloy chassis in a semi-open back design.
Unfortunately, it has a fixed cable on its earpiece.
It is also hard to drive just like the PHOTON PRO.
It has a U-shaped sound signature warmish-balanced tonality as it has a punchy and precise bass response, a rich and warm midrange and then, a smooth and balanced treble response with just a modest amount of air on it.
Technicality-wise, it doesn't offer any impressive aspect as it has intimate sound/speaker stage size and a linear two-dimensional stereo imaging, but at least it has firm macro-dynamics.

TANGZU AUDIO PRINCESS CHANGLE

It also has a bullet-style shell structure albeit it is a bit elongated and has a slimmer profile.
It uses a 6mm micro dynamic driver and it was encased in cylindrical aluminium alloy with an ornate engraving on it that makes it more eye-pleasing.
Non-detachable cable design as its cable is firmly fixed on its earpiece structure.
Hard to drive as a standard gain mode output from a smartphone won't deliver that power output unless you crank the volume at high level.
It has a warm U-shaped sound signature as it has well-balanced bass response with good punch and also quite rumbly, with a warm yet balanced sounding midrange with a smooth and even treble response.
This one has an intimate and a bit cramped soundstage size, linear two-dimensional stereo imaging and solid macro-dynamics but less detailed and a tad blunted micro-dynamics.

TANCHJIM ZERO ULTIMA

It also has a single driver set-up with a bullet-style IEM profile.
It features a proprietary dynamic driver and it was encapsulated in a cylindrical shape polycarbonate shell chassis.
It also has a non-detachable cable design as it was firmly fixed on its earpiece too.
This one has a U-shaped sound signature – it has a punchy and rumbly bass, an adequately warm and energetic midrange for smooth, lush and expressive vocals, and then a lustre treble response with modest amount of airy extension.
The soundstage on this set seems a bit intimate as it has fairly modest size with a linear two-dimensional stereo imaging presentation and also, it has quite detailed resolution capabilities from firm macro-dynamics and reasonably sharp micro-detail retrieval.

In conclusion of this product review, I think that this set is quite good for its asking on both tonal and technical performance along with its unusual compact product packaging that makes it more economically space-saving with less paper waste to promote recycling and sustainability on nature especially on trees. While it is coloured tuning, its small dynamic driver is capable to deliver a deep and impactful bass presence, warm yet vivid vocals and instruments, and then a clear and bright treble that makes its sound enjoyable to listeners with its fun and musicality factor.

The ROSESELSA PHOTON PRO is now available at HIFIGO, check out the link below that I have provided.

LINK:

https://hifigo.com/products/roseselsa-photon-pro