IEM Comparisons
I compared the Quattros with EMs at hand, using the Hiby R6 Pro II set to hi-gain in AB mode with the Quattros requiring a volume level of 28.
Simgot EA1000 – 1xDD 1xPR (USD $219)
The EA1000 are much smaller but heavier thanks to their stainless steel shells, yet slightly more comfortable due to the size difference. Requiring 19 volume on the R6P2 they’re easy to drive.
EA1000s are vastly leaner than the Quattros, with a far brighter & more neutral sound. EA1000 bass is very impressive & stands out from the rest of the presentation more than Quattros’ does, which you may see as a positive or negative. The EA1000s are more sub bass oriented whereas the Quattros have far more midbass, and greater overall bass quantity.
The EA1000s lack of midbass helps maintain a cooler tonality, along with less lower midrange than the Quattros – a symptom of the EA1000 being tuned closer to the Harman target. I find the Quattros’ more full-bodied midrange much more convincing, whereas the EA1000s emphasise the upper midrange more.
The soundstages of both IEMs are similarly wide but Quattros’ is deeper. The EA1000s lag slightly behind in resolution & imaging sharpness, and both IEMs feel equally coherent.
ISN Neo5 – 4xBA 1xDD (USD $289)
The Neo5s are physically smaller & lighter than the Quattros, and feel like they’re sculpted to my ears almost perfectly – comfort is close to the best of any universal IEM I’ve tried. Requiring just 19 volume on the R6P2 they’re easy to drive.
The Neo5s are much more v-shaped with a thinner tonality than the Quattros. I find the Neo5’s DD slower to respond to fast music, and am surprised to find Neo5s bass quantity slightly lower & bass texture more pillowy than that of the Quattros.
The Neo5 soundstage is narrower & shallower, resolution feels a notch lower and they’re less coherent perhaps because their DD can struggle to keep up. The Quattros boast better dynamics & note weight, treble feels smoother & higher quality on the Quattros though the actual amount of treble quantity is higher on the v-shaped Neo5s which come across as more excited but far less smooth & refined.
Penon Turbo – 6xBA (USD $549)
Turbos’ shells are much smaller, yet only slightly more comfortable than the Quattros as the areas that make direct contact with my canals fit more snugly. Needing 23 volume on the R6P2 they’re easier to drive.
Turbos’ tuning switches I keep in their stock positions, and unsurprisingly the biggest difference lies with bass as the Turbos’ BA bass is no match for the Quattros. Turbo have lower bass quantity, bass decay & texture are commendable by BA standards but poor compared with the Quattros’ dual DDs.
The Turbos feature a similarly dark tonality but they’re far less full-bodied than Quattro, with less impressive note weight & dynamics. Turbos emphasise the upper midrange much more which I don’t care for, instead I find the Quattro’s meatier midrange far more engaging.
Though the Turbos’ soundstage is slightly wider, imaging is marginally sharper & they feel slightly more resolving, to me those improvements don’t compensate for their inferior tonality, and though their BA drivers separate instruments during busy passages better that difference is also quite minor.
Fir Audio XE6 – 4xBA 1xEST 1xDD (USD $3899)
The stainless steel XE6s are much heavier, which I notice occasionally during long listening sessions. However they’re sculpted to my canals decently and comfort levels are similar to the Quattros. Needing just 17 volume on the R6P2 they’re easy to drive.
The XE6s feel like the Quattros taken to the next level with an even bolder, more coloured presentation with far more warmth & midbass that can take time to adjust to. Instruments sound much larger on the XE6s, with an even thicker & denser sound with massive note weight few (if any) other IEMs can match.
XE6s boast superior dynamics, a deeper & wider soundstage, deeper & more impactful bass, higher resolution across the board, and smoother, more prominent & higher quality treble thanks to their EST drivers. The Quattros feel more neutral & less coloured by comparison, and may eclipse the XE6s for sheer musicality but trail in other areas.
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.