Timeless 7hz Ortho iem - Finally a Good Ortho iem!

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by rhythmdevils, Dec 17, 2021.

  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I'm so glad you're happy with them! Cheers!
     
  2. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    Interesting that you mentioned you the Rai Penta. Which, I prefer tonally over the Solaris OG out of the box (Solaris will sound better if you play around with tips and source). Its bass is a bit boomy IIRC though.

    Could you compare 7hz to Rai Penta in more details please?
     
  3. Johnston98

    Johnston98 Facebook Friend

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    I use comply tips with the shield on the Penta and the large silicone tips on the 7Hz. I think Crincle does a great job at the detailed sound description of the Penta. I agree with him that the Penta is tuned to the Empyrean sound (which I'm a big fan). Rhythmdevils is spot on with his description of the 7Hz. I agree with his assessment as well. I could do no better.

    So why did I get the 7Hz?

    I'd say the 7Hz (directly compared to Penta) just gives you more of everything. More detail, soundstage, air, tight bass, and the great orthodynamic midrange. Yet it isn't fatiguing, bright, or boomy. If you like the Penta tuning, but sometimes just want "more", the 7hz will do nicely.
     
  4. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    Thank you. I'd have consider the 7hz at $200 if it was on par on the Rai, let alone more.
    These days, it's just so convenient with the Airpod Pro that most IEMs dont make sense to me anymore. But for an ortho sound (which i always like) and at that price, it's definitely worth considering!
     
  5. Ferrum

    Ferrum Acquaintance

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    I eq mine a bit to clean up the upper bass into the mids. Not much just e few dB from 300 down til 100 ish to me they need it. Drive them from a Burson Soloist with fantastic results to my ears. They move air, never heard that before in any of my iems. Orcestral music is really fun.

    cheers
    Ferrum
     
  6. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Have been trying these in the past week with the stock tips and the cable suggested by @rhythmdevils .

    Out of the Focal Arche (voltage or hybrid mode) I, too, can hear the plastic-y timbre.

    It is very much gone with the Wavedream XLR Edition (SE out) + SPL Phonitor SE combo, however. That's a more incisive combo than the Arche, which is designed for (fast and punchy sounding) Focal headphones. It goes well with the relatively "calmer" sound of the 7hz.
    The only slight fault I can find to the sound is a bit "rubbery"/"bouncy" bass presentation. The rest is downright excellent!

    The 7hz's bass clearly extends lower than the Dunu Zen Pro's, but it's not quite as well defined. If it was, it'd be pretty much the perfect IEM on that setup, quite honestly.
     
  7. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    Which one do you feel sounds the best between these two?
     
  8. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Thanks to the wonderful @rhythmdevils first post, and the subsequent impressions here- went ahead and purchased rather than wait for loaner.
    as others have stated this is a SUPER high value purchase, a great IEM that doesn't break the bank.

    Still experimenting with larger tips (silicone and hybrid foams) and trying to ensure that long term comfort is possible.
    but wow, the sonic delivery and quality from bottom to top is certainly way more than I was expecting.
    So far am pairing with iDevice + iFi Gryphon. RU6 seems tempting.
    for fun might plug it into Oor single ended.
     
  9. Nash

    Nash Acquaintance

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    Got them a couple of days back. Other iems I own are the Kato and fdx1. HPs currently include 650 and modded HP1. Driving these primarily using xduoo xd05 plus with 2134 opamp.

    Personally I have a bias against BA iems as I find them a bit thin/sharp unnatural sounding compared to DD iems. Also the previous Audeze planar iems I tried were technically good but sounded off tonally. So after RDs review went for these to have a different sound compared to the DD iems I have and I am happy that I got it. Btw these have an aluminium shell not a plastic one as mentioned in op.

    Sharing my comparison between the timeless, kato and fdx1. Have used timeless with widebore silicone tips, kato with spring tips and fdx1 with most damped nozzle and spiral dots. Sound wise I find Kato and timeless to be very close sounding. Kato sounds a bit more fleshed out than timeless but has a bit of grain or texture which the timeless doesn’t exhibit. Don’t know whether this is the plasticky sound op mentions. Fdx1 has a leaner sound with lesser bass and the upper midrange is bit stringent and can be an issue sometimes. Kato has a bit more width and space than timeless. Fdx1 is bit closed sounding compared to both. Timeless feels faster and has more details and kato comes close second.

    Thanks to RD for recommending these and I can say these sound really good for the price.
     
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    Last edited: Jan 8, 2022
  10. Soups

    Soups Sadomasochistic cat

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    Just quoting a relevant post from a classifieds thread above. Anyhow, I was in the early stages of overspending on some full sized orthos... until I picked up the Timeless. Squelched any desire to explore that category having spent some time with a few mid-level orthos in the past, my guess is that I'd need to spend 10x+ to level up.

    Maybe I'm still in the honeymoon phase with these, but out of the stock SW51+ I often prefer listening to the Timeless over my Focal Clears. I've never purchased an IEM thinking they would be a desktop preference. But I'm now accepting this - and even ordered a custom 6ft cable with a 1/4in connector for these.

    I will also add, one downside is that these can tilt bright on certain amps - such as Schiit's Jot 2 and Vali 2+. So I would recommend pairing with a slightly darker/warmer chain. I'm also thinking some micropore tape experimentation might be in order. Otherwise, this is easily the best $200ish bucks I've spent on transducers since the HD6XX.
     
  11. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Finally got my ears on these. Right away I heard why these appear to be so polarizing. Despite being technically proficient, and having simply excellent timbre, the presentation is not showy. I think many of us here are looking for exactly this kind of transducer, something that seems to effortlessly reproduce music without drawing attention to itself. A lot of others want transducers with attention grabbing presentation. The Timeless is not the transducer for that second group.

    So far I’ve just listened to these with the stock semi-clear tips that were fitted on them out of the box and the stock 4.4mm cable while I wait for the upgraded cable @rhythmdevils recommended to arrive. I started with my Sony ZX300, and immediately I was impressed. The mids are inviting and reproduce vocals with clarity. The high end isn’t peaky at all. The low end has nice rumble but most importantly the texture I crave. The attacks aren’t the sharpest but there’s a satisfying snap of drum sticks on snares for example. Guitars have satisfying crunch and bite. There’s nothing jumping out as being out of place, overemphasized or underemphasized. I spent some time listening to The Rite of Spring and the macro dynamics that piece is known for were powerfully reproduced.

    Switching to the RU6 through my phone doesn’t drastically change my impressions. These are just damn good IEMs and make my others, the FDX1 and UM 3DT, feel superfluous. One of the nicest compliments I can pay a piece of gear is that it keeps me wanting to listen. I put on “Take Five” as a test track and intended to switch over to another track by another artist after, but each subsequent song on the album that started sounded so good that I just ended up listening to the rest of the album in order.

    Thanks RD for bringing these to our attention!
     
  12. daniellistens

    daniellistens Acquaintance

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    I think the comparison to the Sennheiser HD650 is very apt, and basically summarizes what I think of this IEM.

    One thing is the 7Hz Timeless is a tad more resolving and has slightly better extension.

    I am over the moon with these IEMs, and cannot wait for my own pair to arrive.

    Thanks again to @Rockwell for lending these to me.
     
  13. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Currently listening to these with the Periodic Audio Rhodium USB dongle ($49) and I can hardly believe how good the pairing is!
    I've been trying out a few dongles in my possession with Tab S7 in preparation for a trip and I feel a lot more engaged with that cheap dongle (while I'm doing work) than with either the PAW S1 or the RU6!

    Edit: I spoke too soon: the RU6 walks all over it in direct comparison

    I had compared it to the PAW S1 in the past with the Solaris SE and it was clearly not up to snuff, but with the 7hz it actually is definitely more engaging!
    The only slight downside is the bass response seems to hit a floor and I can tell it's trying to go lower but it can't. it's punchy, though.

    I would encourage peeps in need for a more convenient dongle (it's a USB-C to 3.5mm cable, in effect) to give it a try.
     
  14. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    am really enjoying the 7HZ Timeless with the iFi Gryphon.
    balanced 4.4, no IEMatch - VERY open sounding, space between instruments and great detailing.
    easily rivals, beats many small - stack setups I've had as work rigs in the past.

    after 1 day, prefer the Gryphon over RU6 driving the Timeless.
    tone and timbre qualities largely the same, but RU6 closes things in, space a bit cramped and less delineated.
    RU6 with less punch and macrodynamic swing.

    the other cool thing about Gryphon, a bit less with RU6, is feeding it upsampled DSD via HQPlayer Desktop can deliver a more laid back, less up-close presentation with these transportable units and 7HZ Timeless.
    suppose I should start a Gryphon thread soon....
     
  15. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    7Hertz Timeless review

    Intro

    Now up until a few months ago, none of us knew of the company 7Hertz. Now why the name 7Hertz? I dunno, I can’t even find their website. Heck, even all the warranty paperwork is all in Chinese. What I do know is that they make a super engaging IEM for around $200 that is quite a feat. But let’s get to some of the other stuff first before we get there.

    We do know ) that the 7HZ Timeless IEM is a double-sided array N52 magnet, ultra thin 14.2mm diaphragm planar IEM with 14.87 ohm impedance. It also has a detachable MMXX cable, and can be ordered with 3.5mm, 4.4mm, or 2.5mm cable termination. They come in any color, so long as it is black.

    Fit, Comfort, and Finish

    I will say I was worried about the fit for these. The outer part seems rather large. However, there is a taper off rather quickly from the coin outer shell to the nozzle. I will say another (-) is that it might take more time than usual to find the right tips that fit your ear shape. The medium stock usually work right out of the box for me, but not this time. Finally got it right on the third medium set. Mostly because my left side is shallow and the body was pushing against my tragus (that sensitive piece of your ear in the middle. Look up outer ear diagram if you don’t understand).

    However, once I found my tips, they were comfortable, easy to put in and out, and pretty secure moving my head around.

    Now @rhythmdevlis said they are plastic, but I see on Linsoul’s site, it is a CNC’d outer aluminum shell. However the rest is plastic, yes. They are still sturdy and they feel rather solid.

    The stock cable is not quite as big or showy than the Moondrop Kato, it is closer to the Aria cable, but the Timeless cable is smooth plasticy silver outer, not cloth. Pretty standard, and I am sure upgrades can be made here with other MMCX cables.

    Sound Impressions

    At first I noticed the full planar bass texture and thickness. Those that love planar bass without that bloat in the rest of the spectrum will love these. They tend to be a bit punchy in the bass the way that planars like closed T-50 variants do. Warm and rich and yes, it is on the soft side.

    The next thing I notice is just the sheer smoothness of the spectrum. Vocals are so clean and clear. Transients come through and effortless. They have that planar layering thing going on where nothing really gets in the way of other things. Everything has a place. I know I only ranked Detail/Plankton a 4 and Kato a 5, but if I was measuring below 250hz, Timeless would have a 5 and Kato would have a 3.

    The top end was not super airy like the Kato, more relaxed in the highs. Those worried about brightness, there is nothing to worry about here. The top end sounds very natural and clean as the rest of the spectrum.The FR might show a push at 8k, but I did not hear this, or it was never an issue of being too much or bothersome at all.

    They actually remind me of my PMx2’s in their presentation both in the FR, the planar layering thing, and the relaxed softer sound. The signature is also kind of the same downloped and it will trick you into thinking the mids are reduced, but everything in the mids is just SO smooth and clean. Vocals really shine on these (as does EDM of course). They are probably even less muted than the PMx2 as it still sounds effortless, but maybe not getting all the details unless you have a stellar amp.

    Now the bad (and the good)…just like other planars, they might sound kind of muted at first. They take a bit of getting used to. They will not scream details at you, but they will reveal the layers to you and present things in a kind of laid back kind of way. But trust me, it is super engaging and is one of those “one more song” IEM’s or ones you don’t want to take off or have you longing for something different.

    The other kind of bad, is that they need a good amp/source. They are a planar after all. All the same rules apply. The only thing is that they will not need quite the same voltage as T50’s, but they might have you reaching for high gains. I found myself reaching for the volume a few clicks when I was comparing to Kato. High gain was almost always the best choice - they could sound strident or sleepy if not. If you have a separate amp or desktop system, you will get lots of enjoyment out of these. The scalability is really good here - so take the good with the bad.

    Now, out of my phone, they did fairly well. They weren't super loud, but they were too loud at the loudest setting. At decent volume, they were still up there (about 3 clicks away from the top) on my Samsung S10+. On a plane, my phone or tablet might not be enough. They did just fine on the Cayin N3 (140mw at 32 ohms) and had plenty of gas on high gain, but this was the worse source I tried. Sure, at high gain it was pretty loud, but dynamics and overall SQ suffered. They of course did the best out of my Black Widow, however, not far behind was the Vali 2+, and even the FiiO X3 or N3 into the A3 was pretty great and really showed off. So, just like planars, they will need a good amp source behind them to really show off.

    And I will include the same spider chart I had for the Moondrop Kato review comparing these IEM's.

    [​IMG]

    Conclusion

    So the biggest kicks out of this is the visceral bass, layering, and relaxed sound you would expect from a planar. Comfort is a slight factor, but not at all a huge deal or deal breaker for many. They excel at better amps. Sounded so fantastic out of good gear and great songs were completely engaging. I enjoyed The Who’s Who’s Next, along side John Scofield, along side Daft Punk. All of it is just an amazing product to pull off in an IEM at this price with this much engagement.
     
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  16. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

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    Nice review. I'm intrigued but I know they will be too smooth, not contrasting enough for me. I still haven't heard a planar of any type that has been able to keep my long term interest vs a similarly priced dynamic including Meze, Hifiman and Audeze. FOR ME, they all lack some PRAT and this is from someone that owns Quad electrostatics so I have no bias against planar tech.

    That said, I haven't hear these so not making claims but I've found that this tech often sound like they have more low level info simply because your ears aren't as confronted with PRAT.
     
  17. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    1) I am not sure what "not contrasting enough for me" means. Contrasting with regards to what?
    2) Define PRAT.
     
  18. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

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    PRAT is a known in audio. Pace, Rhythm and Timing. Contrast refers to dynamic contrast. I thought those were understood. Not trying to upset anyone here. My comments relate to my personal experience with other planars and the effects of dynamic compression where the low level sounds sometimes become more apparent and give the impression of greater low level detail when it's not always what's actually happening.

    I have seen reviews that have said they sound slightly compressed overall so they fit the profile but I am not personally claiming so because I have not actually heard them myself. Simply a note of awareness to a possible sig for those that do audition them.

    I have a lot of experience with planars over the years and had Stax headphones when they were all round. Still think the original low voltage Lambda (1st rectangle) was one of their most correct sounding phones even though later ones were more open and delineated.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2022
  19. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    If immediacy and impact and sharp transients are your thing (because that is always how I define PRAT), then you are likely more suited to the Moondrop Kato. Both are really stellar performers at a $200 IEM.

    The exciting thing about the Timeless is that it is really a planar IEM that performs well that does not have a tremendous amount of drawbacks. And the biggest plus the the tuning is pretty spot on. Yes, some will complain about a lack of "air", but overall it sounds very cohesive. Planars in general are not good at micro-dynamics, and yes, they do sound soft. Don't worry if these are not for you, they are not for everyone.
     
  20. goodvibes

    goodvibes Facebook Friend

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    Bingo and thanks for that. I have the Kato and will probably sell them. Great for the money but I have some more expensive things that will keep me from using them. K cable and some soft double flange tips voiced them nicely for me but even those aren't quite as delineated as I prefer at this point. Still think they're a steal at the price and much better than I thought possible.

    Just nice to have options like these at around $200. I did try the Oxygen for kicks as well because I read debate over the Kato vs Oxygen. For me, Kato was the more refined/resolved product even though the Oxygen was still VG. I suspect those that prefer the Oxygen already own them and have voiced for them or have certain expectations of sound. I'd get the Timeless for kicks as well but I'm kinda done just listening for giggles at this point. That it sounds a bit softer than the Kato has me back to your last sentence.;)
     

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