Sound Impressions
I tested the Quattros with my Hiby R6 Pro II set to hi-gain in AB mode, at a volume level of 28.
The Quattros are bass-driven with a thick, rich midrange & dark treble that strongly emphasises their smooth tonality & dense note weight.
Bass
It would be unfair to label the Quattros basshead IEMs since doing would imply bass dominates their presentation, yet they deliver as much as possible without crossing the threshold – remaining well balanced, but with enough power down low to provide a massively satisfying sense of fullness.
With dual 10mm DDs for the lows, midbass is emphasised over sub and there’s enough midbass in particular to infuse the presentation with a huge amount of warmth and body. If you prefer lean sound I strongly recommend looking elsewhere!
There’s plenty of thump and rumble for electronic music, and bass texture is reasonably gratifying without being the best I’ve heard. Bass decay is believably prolonged, without those two DD’s being too slow to keep up during fast-paced music.
Midrange
If you want a meaty, full-bodied midrange you can sink your teeth into the Quattros have you covered, and this is where a lot of your attention will be riveted.
What most impresses me about the Quattro midrange isn’t the impressively hefty note weight -easily the best I’ve heard under $1000- nor their remarkable coherence which is absolutely NOT what I expected from an IEM with four DDs (if anything I feared the opposite!) but rather their sublime smoothness.
This is an IEM you can listen to for days without ever hearing jarring peaks. Music just flows in a manner that makes you want to keep listening for hour after hour, and their strongly lower-midrange emphasised tonality is once again unquestionably the most satisfying I’ve heard under $1000.
Treble
The Quattros are unashamedly dark, and this is where some may have issue with them. Though treble quality is quite good, avoiding the grain we see in entry-level IEMs, Penon have tuned the Quattros conservatively in this area to avoid any nasty peaks or sibilance.
Instruments like cymbals, snares & bells do not feel rolled off but are represented less prominently, and though the Quattros’ treble never stands out as deficient, they aren’t my first choice for rendering instruments like violins as too much of my attention is focused around the lows & mids.
The upside of the Quattros’ safer treble is the total absence of fatigue, inviting longer listening sessions.
Technical Performance
The Quattros expertly straddle a fine line of clearly prioritising tonality over technical performance, without starving technicalities of capability to the point they become distracting weaknesses – Penon have been tuning IEMs for years and clearly know what they’re doing here.
The soundstage is moderately wide & surprisingly deep for an IEM of this price, never feeling artificially stretched nor claustrophobic. I wouldn’t call it a strength however, as there’s so much warmth with instruments rendered quite large, so the stage can feel more intimate than it really is.
Resolution is quite good for this price, though they definitely aren’t detail monsters given their more safely-tuned treble. However vocal nuances come through with satisfying prominence, embellished by their decadently warm tonality & delicious smoothness.
Imaging and separation are solid without calling massive attention to themselves, and most importantly all four DDs are remarkably coherent & fast enough to keep up even with modern EDM music. Dynamics are also very good, an attribute I value strongly.
Page 1 – Introduction, Packaging & Ergonomics
Page 2 – Sound Impressions & Technical Performance
Page 3 – IEM Comparisons
Page 4 – More IEM Comparisons
Page 5 – Cable Comparisons
Page 6 – Conclusion
Great review Nick. They sound like they are well worth checking out at that price.
Glad you liked it John! They’re the best I’ve heard for this kind of sound under $1000, a very safe recommendation for folks looking for something smooth & warm.