In this booming world of audio products it’s hard to keep track of brands. But Hidizs has been doing some interesting stuff. Their planar IEMs captured the imagination of both buyers and reviewers (I loved it too). They used to have a good range of DAPs but it’s limited to AP80 series now, sadly but the successor is on the way!! In the mean time we are treated with their MK12, one of the most neutral and natural sounding DD based IEMs under $200, powered by a high purity magnesium driver. What Hidizs is really kown for is their high quality BA and hybris based IEMs. Their MS2 was nt very popular within our community but they are looking to shake up the sub $100 market with the New MS2 pro. This one houses a new gen 10.2mm DD with dual Magnetic circuits and Dual Chambers and is aided by a Custom Silver Core BA driver. It goes head on against a lot of IEMs in this price and I will compare it with the Quatio and Mk12.
Currently priced at $75, this IEM comes in 3 colors (essentially the back plate leather colors are different) and one can opt for 4.4mm or 3.5mm termination. I went for the 4.4mm and the Black one.
Get one from here:
ACCESSORIES AND UNBOXING:
It is a departure from what we see with the MK12 but is more in line with the MP143. Simple box, nothing fancy. Nevertheless, open the box and we get to see the IEMs upfront. We have the tuning filters and the cable placed inside a paper box under the IEM while the tips are stuffed inside separate sticks. We are getting 2 set of tips, I am using the white tips, looks good on the IEM.
CABLE:
MS2 pro ships with the exactly same cable as the Mp143. It is a dual core OFC cable and is available in both 3.5mm and 4.4mm versions. I have the 4.4mm version with me and I like this cable. Its light weight and the cable has little to no memory issues, isn’t bouncy and one doesn’t need to worry about microphonics either. The parts used are of decent quality too. The 4.4mm jack is a bit on the larger side but the Y splitter, cable slider and 2pin connectors are minimal in size. The cable guides are fairly relaxed and don’t exert much pressure on the ear either.
BUILD QUALITY:
This time around Hidizs has gone with a slightly more conventional shape which still looks unique but just like alwaysm has no issues with fitting. Hidizs has made a lot of IEMs with metal shell and just like the Shuoer S12 pro, Tri i3 pro and 7hz Timeless we are getting an all metal build quality. This time around they have used Zinc Alloy moulding. Thanks to this, one doesn’t need to worry about durability, it will take good amount of rough handling without much issues but unlike the planar IEMs and MK12, this is a bit more prone to finger print smudges. We are getting an interesting looking back plate with faux leather on it while the nozzle has swappable filters to take care of the tuning flexibilities.
Ergonomics are decent too. There are no annoying edges to worry about. Thanks to the well managed weight and aptly deep nozzle, the ear pieces do not feel heavy, even when they kind of are heavy.
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
We get a nice hybrid setup here and it’s not hard to drive either. We have a high sensitivity of 111db and resistance of Just 17ohm which makes this an easy IEM to drive out of our mid range USB dongles and I am having a blast with them. I got the Hidizs S9 pro+ bundle and this pairing is very good. Yes, getting a more capable source will definitely bring improvements of it’s own, even the more capable Shanling UA6 has better air between instruments and a bigger stage but the S9 pro+ doesn’t leave a lot to be desired. I am getting very good layering and separation with good amount of air between instruments. The stage isn’t small or clumsy, imaging too is very good.
One can easily drive this IEM with mobile phones too. This wont scream or screech but yes, the resolution won’t be the same.
SOUND QUALITY:
MS2 wasn’t a very popular IEM but this pro varient is something special. Riding on a dual chamber, dual magnetic DD and a custom Silvercore BA, this IEM has the kind of potential I haven’t experienced in this price range. I am literally a fan of this White filter. It’s balanced in such a way that it offers one of the best highs, clean and clear mids without any veiling while devoid of any sharpness while the lows aren’t suppressed or limited either!! I mean.. How? This is a $75 IEM after all!! How is this IEM this good? It’s mind blowing at this point of time!! Not a single problem with tonality timber and we are getting a warmish yet slightly bright presentation. It’s the slightly extra bit energy at the finishing region which is offering this kind of signature. Is this the GOAT of $100 IEMs? It definitely had the potential!!
I am using the white filter, stock tips and Hidizs S9 pro+ as source for this review.
NOZZLES:
I will easily forget about the other filters. They literally do not need to exist. Red filter is slightly holding back the highs while offering a bit more bass body than the White one. Which offers a good balance but guess what, I do not need to compromise with the air and sub-bass depth with the white filter either!! Yes the bass body is smaller but it still has the depth and movement of air!! How!!
Black nozzle turns the MS2 pro into an IE300. Warm, with bigger area of impact, slowish decay, offers a deeper and meaty punch, slightly less dynamic control and contrast with smoother notes everywhere else. Mid range offers slightly better vocal thickness and texture but lacks the extra resolution and precision. Highs are kind of a miss too, lacking air and proper separation, which is not bad for a $100 bassy IEM but this IEM got magic!! I am not a fan of this nozzle but I can understand that some might prefer this calmer, laid-back presentation over the agile and eager white filter.
BASS:
There are 3 possibilities but I am using the white filters for this review and the performance is satisfactory. I am not seeking quantity but quality and that’s what I am getting out of it. Clean, clear and balanced, just the way I like. It doesn’t have a big area of impact or a lot of heft behind the notes but has the depth, it moves very good amount of air (inward, while expanding)and the notes are punchy with a good amount of substance behind it. We get very good sub-bass extension and rumble, mid bass is slightly forward as it should be with good body and layered delivery. Decay is paced dynamically, fast when needed and slow when the track demands for a bit more weight. We are delt with very good dynamics and contrast too and MS2 pro can easily hit upper bass notes without any softness to worry about.
MID RANGE:
This is where the magic at. What can I say, this is the best kind of mid range in my opinion. We get very good separation, it has the body and texture with the vocals and instruments, while the finishing regions are slightly more energetic and precise. It has one of the best back and foreground separation I have heard under $200, while not being sharp, compressed or lean. Notes have very good shape, with wide bases, superb mid body texture and precise yet not sharp finishing. There is no problem with tonality or timber but this White filter can sound ever so slightly dry and crisp to exhibit better transparency. And thanks to this kind of shape, this mid range is warm yet slightly bright. We are delt with very good resolution and definition too. Instruments around the vocals are slightly less forward but they maintain very good transparency and clarity. Vocals are as accurate as it gets while maintaining right amount of throat emphasis and sharpness. Upper mids are clear of any unwanted sharpness too. This mid range bites, but softly. Perfection? Yes, IMHO. What else can you expect from any IEM?
HIGHS:
White filter, unlike the rose gold filter on the MP145 doesn’t sharpen the highs, what it does is adds a bit of energy at the finishing region and air between instruments which is vital to make an IEM perfect in my opinion. It doesn’t need to have a lot of energy or extension to be admired. We are getting agile, nicely spaced and clean notes with very good extension. No darkness at the upper treble either and the best thing is, there is not excess energy or sharpness to be wary of. Layering is very good but it’s the separation that is fantastic. What amazed me is the clarity, this IEM has much better definition and resolution than the Kiwi Ears Aether and offers a more open and less sharp presentation than the Tanchjim Fission while maintaining similar details. I don’t think anything can be better than this under $100, not even Etymotic.
COMPARISON:
VS Tanchjim Fission:
Fission is a more accurate and precise sounding IEM but it sounds dry and thin in that process, which is not the case with MS2 pro. MS2 pro offers better bass body, air movement with a more natural presentation. This hybrid IEM offers better vocal accuracy too with slightly warmer and fuller notes. Fission on the hand can be slightly fatiguing. Highs is where the Fission sounds compressed, kind of sharp and lacking air between instruments while the Hidizs is much more open with similar extension and details. MS2 pro has more rounded and bigger stage too.
VS Kefine Quatio :
This the comparison for the ages!! A quad driver hybrid, loaded with twice the number of drivers of each type , compared to a more basic hybrid set-up of Hidizs. Which one comes out on top?
My only gripe with Quatio is it’s slightly laggy nature with high texture vocals, or else both of these are neck in neck.
Quatio doesn’t have this much of impact from nozzles but the silver nozzle gets the job done. It has a bit more bass body, slightly less control and lacks a bit of dynamics. What it does better is background acts in the mid range are a bit more layered but in that process, it’s vocals aren’t as vivid as the MS2 pro. Highs is where these two differ, MS2 pro sounds more open and airy. While the Quatio has similar energy, extension but less taller notes. Stage of the MS2 pro is bigger. Yes, you can cuss me but that’s what I felt. Quatio is wider but MS2 pro has much better instrument distribution in it’s more rounded stage.
Fit wise too, MS2 pro is a better fit, I kind of struggle a bit with the Quatio at times.
VS Hidizs MK12 Turri:
Okay, Hidizs did this to themselves, don’t blame me now. MK12 is an excellent IEM on it’s own with excellent sonics, better Z-axis depth which helps with back and foreground separation and layering. It has better bass response too, it’s tonality and timber are slightly more organic too. But it’s technical abilities are not as good as the MS2 pro. MS2 pro offers super resolution and definition even with complex tracks which is not the case with MK12.
Everything else are nearly identical. Both are fatigue free and have no sharpness to worry about.
CONCLUSION:
This is a lower mid range IEM and believe me when I say this, it easily rubs shoulder with some $200 IEMs without any issue. Name your discipline and MS2 pro is doing admirably. It has details, clarity, resolution and definition while comfortably distant from sharpness, thinness and compression.
I just simply have run out of words for this gem of an IEM. Yes, you might come out saying the white nozzle isn’t bassy, Black filter isn’t good with treble while the Red filter is neither bassy nor that well extended but imagine one thing, there is nothing else to complain about!! And these nozzles definitely have a sizeable impact on the signature too, which is not the case with other makers. This IEM literally blows away a $130 IEMs I recently reviewed with a gimmicky knob and nozzles, and is a much better value proposition than the Juzear Defiant.
I have one Advice for everyone, if you are in the market, looking for a IEM under $100, grab this with your eyes closed. Thank me later.
