Select comparisons
I’m not going to dive too deep into gear comparisons because the number of different combinations of DAC and IEM at this price point can get quite overwhelming. That, and I honestly don’t have enough like-for-like gear to make comparisons meaningful.
Still, it makes sense to make a few select comparisons for context. Starting with R3 II, the closest device I can think of is a dongle, and it so happens I have Cayin’s superb RU7 on hand. At $289, RU7 is over $100 more expensive than R3 II, and being a dongle, it lacks R3 II’s built-in features and connectivity options too.
What it does have, though, is a unique 1-bit DAC with a DSD upsampling engine that, even at its lowest setting, seems to tease more detail from Yvain’s already detailed presentation. RU7 also matches R3 II for power output, and to my ears, has a slightly warmer, richer, and more musical tone when I listen to Yvain off both. Stage expansion is wider with RU7, though R3 II matches it for depth.
The decision between these two devices ultimately comes down to use case, unless you’re fixated on a particular sonic characteristic of either device. As a dongle, RU7 is reliant on a host device, and won’t work with wireless IEMs. While R3 II can also function as a ‘dongle’ from a host phone or DAP, it doesn’t need to, and when it does, it has its own battery for power. Size-wise, R3 II is wider and taller, and about the same thickness, though regardless of its size ‘advantage’, RU7 will always be tethered to a bulkier device.
Comparing Yvain to other IEMs is also problematic, if only because I don’t really have any that make sense to compare it to. The closest I can get is Kiwi Ears’ Quintet, which, unlike Yvain, uses four different driver types to deliver a surprisingly coherent and competent sound.
At about the same price as Yvain, Quintet makes a similar case for one of the standout budget IEMs of the year. The similarities don’t stop there: the two actually share a common design, with a sculpted resin body and embossed metal faceplate, though Yvain just about shades Quintet in the looks department, in my opinion.
Sonically is where these IEMs differ most. You’d expect Yvain to sound more coherent with its all-BA components, and indeed it does, but the different sonic qualities of Quintet’s multiple drivers makes it a more exciting listen. Both are smooth, warm-tilted and organic, but Quintet delivers significantly more bass thump, rumble and texture, while Yvain goes for a decidedly more focused midrange. Not that Quintet’s midrange struggles – on the contrary it’s very sweet – but its bass and treble are both more prominent by comparison.
Technically the two trade blows, Quintet maybe sounding a touch more spacious, Yvain a touch deeper. Yvain also has more distinct layering, while Quintet is better at separating different sounds, probably as a result of its different driver topologies. In my opinion, for less than $500, I’d consider buying both these sets as a complementary pair.
Closing thoughts
If there’s one thing the last few weeks with R3 II and Yvain have shown me, it’s that there’s plenty of quality to be had at the value end of the market. For less than the price of most midrange IEMs (and most midrange cables), you can buy yourself a full-featured micro DAP and superbly engineered IEM with tuning and technical performance that won’t leave even experienced enthusiasts wanting.
R3 II, to me, is a marvel of miniaturisation. Build quality surpasses that of many DAPs I’ve seen sold for more money, and its intuitive usability – granted with a few quirks here and there – makes it a solid choice for those who want to keep their music listening simple and clutter-free. I think it’s also a better alternative to many dongles, and is somehow cheaper than most dongles too.
Yvain is likewise a mature, well-made IEM for those who like their music mostly balanced with a midrange focus. It delivers enough detail and technical proficiency that improves what most users at this price point can expect from their true wireless IEMs, and other than a neutral, less bass-infused sound, you’ll likely find Yvain’s refinement and balance more to your liking than wireless alternatives too.
There’s no point comparing what you get from the combination of these two products with those that cost twice and thrice their price, only to say that diminishing returns won’t buy you twice or more the quality for the money.
Instead, if you’re after a highly portable, easy listening combination of music player and wired IEM, with the added benefit of being able to use your wireless IEMs or your phone as a remote control player, I’d strongly consider what HiBy has given us here.
