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Sound –

Testing Methodology: Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. 7-9KHz peaks may be artefacts/emphasised due to my measurement setup which I found to be the case here. Measurements besides channel balance are volume matched at 1KHz. Fit depth normalised to my best abilities to reduce coupler resonance. Still, due to these factors, my measurements may not accurately reflect the earphone or measurements taken by others. I gave the Cappuccino 100hrs burn-in to ensure maximum performance prior to subjective breakdown.

Tonality –

I was quite surprised by the Cappuccino’s tuning which seems to harken back to the colourful tonalities of old. Admittedly, this is initially a little off-putting when coming from many modern IEMs that stringently follow reference curves, however, it is a refreshing change for those wanting to expand their collection for instance. In addition, with a natural 3kHz pinna gain, the Cappuccino doesn’t sound off or strangely voiced. What strikes most is its warm, mid-bass biased low-end that gives the whole sound a creamy, soft character. The midrange is clear and present to balance but avoids intensity with a smoother lower treble. Emphasis then picks up around 6.5 kHz for crispness and definition. If you like clarity and separation this won’t be for your as though the Cappuccino is a reasonably balanced earphone, it has a rich and unabashedly warm, coherent voicing.

Bass –

The Cappuccino achieves a sort of Aether R-esque warm, yet clear voicing instigated by a mid-bass biased low end. Sub-bass extension is good as you’d expect from a well-engineered dynamic driver setup and some pressure and slam is evident as a result. That said, it does sit a fair deal behind the mid-bass, meaning this is very much a texture and punch-focused sound. Notes are warm and obviously rounded, this means the timbre isn’t especially accurate though is still enjoyable for many genres. Driver quality is quite good too though you still shouldn’t expect especially strong separation or detail fine retrieval simply due to the tuning. This is a punchy, full sound with evident bloat if not much smearing or muddiness. Bass notes are full, plump and obviously coloured.

Besides the broadly mid-bass-focused tuning, there is much to enjoy with regards to the pure quality of the driver chosen. It offers a relatively tight impact and decays quicker than most, keeping the note presentation well-controlled. Definition and dynamics are both just ample, but the driver is doing a good job at keeping up with complex passages considering the tuning. It wouldn’t feel appropriate to label the Cappuccino as a bad performer despite its colouration; this is clearly an intentional tuning choice for those with a preference for warmth and impact. Whilst to the detriment of balance and separation, mid-bass texture does stand out as an obvious strength amongst competitors and the driver quality is impressive especially given that it must overcome a far more bloated tuning than other IEMs.

Mids –

Depending on your preference, this may be where the mid-bass tuning most pays off as the midrange has a unique, highly analogue timbre. Indeed, warmth is very evident though counterbalanced by a reduction in room and a boost in upper-midrange presence and clarity. While vocals still sit behind the bass, they are well-present, well-sized and offer solid clarity all considered. Warmth is again, the clear focus of this tuning and vocals are lush, filled-in and coated in a layer of fuzz as a result. This applies equally to both male and female vocals. What surprises most is the nigh complete lack of veil despite such obvious colouration. Indeed, the voicing is natural due to the progressive climb to 3kHz emphasis, aided in clarity by sustained presence in the 4kHz range. In addition, the Cappuccino is reasonably articulate due to a lower-treble peak which does help to counterbalance the added warmth and uphold decent definition.

Like the lack of veil, the level of definition is surprising but still cannot be considered to be a highlight of this design. While vocals will be a matter of taste, I do feel that the instrument presentation does leave to be desired. They sound somewhat diminished and lacking proper room and presence due to the sucked out lower midrange. Again, vocals sound coloured being both warm and breathy, but remain perfectly pleasant. This will make them the focus for many. However, the presentation of midrange instruments such as pianos will be divisive in my opinion. Still, this is a mature take on such a unique style of tuning with appropriate peaks and troughs for overall enjoyment. As always, its versatility is hampered by simply virtue of its above-average levels of colouration that means its performance will inherently be less consistent than more balanced competitors.

Highs –

Single-dynamic driver IEMs around this price range tend to repeat similar trend, offering a medium lower-treble peak followed by a dark mid-treble. This is a popular tuning and for good reason, it provides a good amount of detail presence, heightened perception of note definition and reduced glare and sibilance. The Cappuccino is no different, with a 5k dip and a 6.5kHz peak, treble is thin but crisp and delivered with a more energetic character. There is a bias towards percussion and the general leading edge of notes with a slight reduction in body and texture after alongside a notably reduced shimmer due to a sizable mid-treble trough. In so doing, treble notes aren’t overly thinned out nor brittle, they sound relatively natural if thin and avoid over-sharpening too. Treble itself sits just behind the bass and mostly in-line with the midrange giving the earphone a well-balanced presentation overall.

Balance is not to say that the timbre or tonality are accurate, simply that position and presence similar. Due to this tuning, the Cappuccino is granted a nice dark, contrasted background that aids its soundstage presentation and gives it a nicely organized image. It sounds composed on complex tracks despite not having the best technical performance in class if still a respectable one. On the flipside, some may find treble overly muted due to the reduction in air and shimmer as notes do lack that lift in clarity and vibrance that more balanced earphones provide. In addition, don’t expect any sparkle or much micro-detail from this design. Extension doesn’t strike as poor but performs at an average level in-class meaning this comes across as a more tonality-focused design rather than a technical one. As always, choose to your preference with regards to this.

Soundstage –

The Cappuccino provides a pleasant soundstage experience that is on the wider side for its asking price and offers a good amount of depth too. Imaging leaves to be desired due to the unbalanced lower-mid region which means some instruments and male vocals do sound more distant and diminished than they otherwise should. Besides this, you get a solid centre image and a nice lateral spread organized into clear background and foreground layers. This means that though separation isn’t especially strong nor is note speed outstanding, the Cappuccino still sound quite organized during complex passages. Don’t expect the most multi-dimensional imaging or the sharpest direction but the earphones do provide a nicely layered presentation with strong width.

Drivability –

The Cappuccino offers a low 15 Ohm impedance and unspecified sensitivity. From my testing it performs at an average level in terms of efficiency which is a good thing as IEMs these days tend to be very easy to drive. They will, therefore, play nicely with the majority of low-power portable sources if requiring a bit more volume than BA and hybrid models.

Output Impedance Sensitivity

With its single-dynamic driver design, the Cappuccino offers a nigh flat impedance curve tested at 20 Ohms. This means it will provide a very similar tonality from a variety of sources. Listeners valuing a consistent experience with multiple sources will appreciate this. It also means the Cappuccino will sound consistent from lesser quality sources such as the integrated output in your smartphone or laptop.

Driving Power

Switching between the Shanling M2X and my desktop stack using the THX789 revealed minimal difference to sub-bass extension and power alongside general note definition. This is an encouraging result for those intending to drive the Cappuccino off a portable source as it will happily pair with dongles, smartphones and DAPs. On the flipside, they won’t scale with higher-end sources to the same extent as some competitors.

Suggested Pair Ups

It should be evident by now that warmer source would not be suitable for the Cappuccino given its warm-leaning tendencies. A clean source is a good option and brighter sources can easily be tolerated. These would be my recommendation, the Hidizs S9 Pro is a good example. Besides this, driving power nor output impedance are much of a concern true to Jomo’s marketing that vouches for the earphone’s ease of drivability.

Next Page: Comparisons & Verdict

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Ryan Soo

Ryan Soo

Avid writer, passionate photographer and sleep-deprived medical student, Ryan has an ongoing desire to bring quality products to the regular reader.

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