Sound impressions: Lows
As for the general sound signature, Chopin has a gentle w-shaped sound signature. The bass feels lush and prominent. The reverbs are very well controlled while displaying thick, dense bass grooves. The bass dives deep along with agile kick and retrieval, achieving clean and musical dynamics. Overall, Chopin’s ability to stably control the reverbs and keep the bass high in density creates a consistent, clear texture for the bass.
Chopins has a good balance in quantity for ultra-lows and upper-lows. The upper-lows don’t get too bouncy and overshadow the ultra-low details, while the ultra-lows are thick in color which makes it prominent throughout the music. These synergies introduce an even bassline which makes the bass sound very mature.
Sound impressions: Vocals & Timbre
Chopin’s timbre is spot-on for targeting the sweet spot between sounding natural and fun. Chopin has smooth, warm-toned vocals that also incorporate lush shine and sparkles, which differs from those IEMs that have a dark, warm sound, that sounds too organic to the point of being boring. In the case of Chopin, the sound may be warm, yet it doesn’t feel dark, which makes it ideal for those who seek fatigue-free mid-range but also don’t want dull or “water-soaked” vocals.
Vocals take a generous step forward from neutral and they scale large and full. Thickness-wise, Chopin is adequately thick in vocals, yet without sacrificing technical agility. Chopin adapts well to both male and female vocals so that the performance doesn’t depend much on genre or vocal types. Sibilance, metallic tone, or change of tones are not shown whatsoever, creating an extremely stable and consistent nuance throughout the range.
Sound impressions: Highs & etc.
Highs take a small step back from the mids yet produce lilting, cheerful notes. Despite the trebles only being gently elevated in quantity, they make a bold presence throughout the sound. Chopin effectively sheds light on the details, allowing most users to easily tune into clear trebles without easily fatiguing the ears. A nice crispiness is shown yet the texture doesn’t feel rigid, as the textures are still on the smoother side. Fine strands of trebles are high in resolution to satisfy those who pay attention to the little details. Trebles are also tidy and speedy, keeping the sound well controlled.
Since Chopin has a sound signature where vocals stand up close while lows and highs are relatively behind, it does have that typical hybrid headroom feel where the BA and DD feel slightly distanced. However, these two drivers are matched very well in timbre and texture, and this “distancing” is quite mild. Unless you’re a strict 1-driver enthusiast, this would rather be appreciated. Especially even more if you prefer vocals to be veil-free. The soundstage is quite expansive and large, creating a virtual size that is close to a generously sized studio room with vocals directly singing to the mic.
Verdicts
Chopin is a fine example that tells what a good tuning is. Accuracy, musicality, and naturality are all at once, offering a high-resolution, fatigue-free sound. If you think a classic BA+DD configuration is boring or outdated, you might want to think again.
Even within the budget-friendly range, there are lots of multi-drive IEMs that introduce new forms and styles of drivers. Yet Chopin reminds me once again that performance is more about the right tuning and fusion of drivers, rather than equipping with various, flashy sets of components. If you’re looking for a powerful budget IEM with a W-shaped sound signature that emphasizes strong dynamic energy and clarity, this would be a very good match.
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