Conclusion
Let me put it simply. For $399 if you want sound that’s smooth, rich & warm it doesn’t get better than this.
Even if you’re used to spending ten times that much on earphones, if I just described the kind of sound you love then I strongly suggest demoing the Quattros.
When you’ve been an audiophile forever you learn each type of sound has it’s place. I can just as easily enjoy basshead IEMs as I can a reference-tuned set, but sound that’s deliciously smooth without instruments sounding excessively smoothed over…. that’s perfect for new music discovery.
The Penon Quattros make me want to listen to album after album which is precisely what I’ve been doing since they arrived.
I can’t recommend them universally because they won’t please everyone – some folks prefer a thinner, leaner sound with loads of treble which is exactly what the Quattros aren’t. Instead they’re warm & bassy with impeccably full-bodied timbre many of us find intoxicating.
I finally get it – nothing replicates lifelike tonality like dynamic drivers, which is why the Quattros exist. They’re a brilliantly tuned set of IEMs, an absolute pleasure if you enjoy this kind of sound.
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.