Disclaimer: I would like to formally thank Kareena from Linsoul for providing us with a unit in exchange for an impartial and honest review. On behalf of the team at the Headphone List, we thank he r for his generosity and trust in THL.
Summary:
The Punch Audio Martillo punches above industry basshead repertoire. Its controlled 14dB sub-bass shelf is expressed as a tactile and disciplined, bulbous rumble, punctuated by crystalline highs and an unperturbed midrange.
Transient performance is commensurate with the nimble decay of dedicated tweeters, with a clinical and incisive attack. However, the Martillo fails to bypass the metallic timbre limitations from a lack of displaced air. For some, the surgical bass-elevation may also be too conservative.
Pros:
+ Clinically controlled sub-bass rumble that’s textural and detail-rich
+ Unclouded midrange with fast transient performance
+ Sweet-sounding treble with modest extension
Cons:
– Balanced armature timbre, with a cold edge in the upper-midrange
– Modest sub-bass elevation may lack that ‘frenzied’ slam that bassheads crave
– The carving of the frequency response amongst drivers is very apparent
Introduction
Every minute that passes, a new IEM is released into the wild. That’s hyperbole, but it might as well be factual. Punch Audio is a newly minted entrant thrust into the amorphous world of audiophilia by Linsoul. As its namesake implies, the ‘Punch’ refers to bass that can be felt in your bones.
FatFreq’s indelible contributions to the audiophile market have cultivated a newfound love for a hedonistic amount of phat bass. Their budget-oriented collaboration with Hawaai Bad Boy (HBB), the Deuce, flew out the window like hot cakes. The Symphonium Audio Titan further substantiates an adoration for low-end theatrics.
With no denouement in sight, the Martillo is here to capitalise on this. Priced at $349, the Martillo contains a sizeable array of five drivers: one planar, two balanced armatures and two dynamic drivers. The Martillio can be purchased on Linsoul’s official website.
Technology
Twin Knowles RDE Balanced Armatures
The Martillo’s midrange is powered by two dedicated Knowles RDE Balanced Armatures for a clear and realistic presentation.
Twin Dynamic Drivers
Two dynamic driver woofers drive the Martillo’s promised low-end grunt and rumble for a visceral bass response.
Dedicated Planar Tweeter
The Martillo contains a custom-tuned microplanar tweeter dedicated to the upper-treble for added brilliance and sparkle.
Unboxing
The Martillo box’s shares a near-identical length, width and height of the Ziigaat Luna which I reviewed previously. The Punch Audio’s stereotypical graffiti-inspired logo and hoodrat typography foreshadows the kind of IEM we should expect to listen to.
Inside the box, you’ll find the following inclusions:
- Punch Audio Martillos
- Punch Audio branded hard zipper case with lanyard
- S, M and L silicon tips
- 2-pin quad-braid SPC cable with swappable terminations (4.4mm, 3.5mm)
The Punch Audio’s package is box standard for Linsoul. It ticks all the right boxes without leaving a lasting impression. Utilitarian but uninspiring.
Design and Build
The Martillo is moulded from thick, piano black hypoallergenic resin with a glossy exterior. The faceplate pattern adorning the Martillo comes in magma red with fissures of black running throughout. It’s a visually striking appearance that is eerily reminiscent of the FatFreq Deuce or Scarlet Mini. Shots fired.
There are no physical imperfections or overflowing lacquer. Everything is built to standard, and there is little to critique. Apart from the visually loud aesthetic, the Martillo does little to rewrite the status quo, but it epitomises all that is good with mass production.
In typical ‘me’ fashion, a full-metal shell is my personal preference for its virtual indestructibility and rigidity, but no harm, no foul. Resin has proven itself as a mainstay material. Moreover, Martillo’s shells feel more substantive physically in the hand, with thicker walls than other name-brand competitors.
Comfort and Ergonomics
The Martillo is ergonomically shaped, following a similar form factor to other competitors. It’s moderately sized with a protruded chamber to contain its 5-driver array.
Nozzle length is somewhat stout, but it never proved to be a physical issue as far as fit and comfort go. Do expect its bulbous shells may stick out a little from the ears.
The Martillo’s weight is minor, proving to be a comfortable wear for protracted listening sessions. However, as a basshead-centric IEM, there is a visible vent to dispel pressure build-up in either chamber. But because of its larger-than-life bass shelf (we will get into this in later sections), extraneous noise ingress is negated fairly well.
Cable Quality
The Martillo’s quad-braid SPC cable is tightly-woven with a fairly low-wire gauge, sheathed in a chocolate-brown PVC jacket. There’s a tangible stiffness to the cable, but it coils neatly into a wider spool. It may not be the most malleable or supple, but it drapes neatly from my pockets in outdoor use.
The cable’s hardware is a mix of silver and black aluminium elements in a brushed finish for both the Y-split and swappable termination end. The latter adopts the same swappable termination system for mid-fi Chinese IEMs: a 4-pin mini XLR with a cut-out notch.
As long as the termination-of-choice (female end) lines up neatly with the receiving end (male end), there is no lateral shaking. Thus, there isn’t a need for a threaded cap to keep it secure when it’s already snug.
The Martillo’s cables are built well and it feels like a premium aftermarket cable in the hand. Sadly, the choice of hardware seems like a mismatch here visually, but that does little to detract from already near-perfect cable.
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