Ivery IV-9

ø5.8mm Dynamic Driver

$5~$10
3.5/5.0

The IV-9 caught my eye because they are extremely tiny, with just a ø4mm dynamic driver. I wasn't expecting much from these, but what I received definitely surprised me. These earphones have a bright sound. Slightly cold but warm enough to enjoy. Could be fatiguing on long listening sessions because of some sibilance on the vocals.

Pros

  • Crisp and detailed mids and highs, pretty good for vocal-based music.
  • Great channel separation.
  • Tiny and extremely comfortable design.
  • Very solid build quality, as usual with the Ivery's IV series.

Cons

  • The overall loudness is relatively low.
  • The lack of bass creates a cold sound signature with a hollow sound, especially with vocals and acoustic instruments.
  • The sharp highs and excessive sibilance is quite fatiguing.

Package & Accessories

Package:

Soft plastic (clear)

Ear Tips - Single-Flange:

S+M+L, cone-shaped, white (translucent), ø4mm cyan bores

Shirt Clip:

Black, 360° cable holder, generic

Build & Materials

Housings:

Metal, extra-small, ø4mm nozzles, soft strain reliefs

Remote:

Metal, single-button

Y-Split:

Metal, soft strain relief

Cable:

PVC-coated, 119cm, semi-soft, mildly bent

Plug:

Metal, straight, short, soft strain relief

Comfort & Fit

Unlike IV-8, the IV-9 actually use the shape of the ear and lean against the lower part of the ear, which makes them extremely comfortable.

Lows / Bass

The bass is quite good. It's gentle and moderate, but is way overpowered by the sharp highs.

Mids / Vocals

While the mids are quite detailed on the upper-end, they sound extremely cold and life-less, and persistently sibilant. There's barely any warmth to the sound.

Highs / Treble

Sharp and can even be unpleasantly piercing at times. Tonally not the most delicate treble, and even slightly harsh tonally. Still, it's relatively bright and quite impressive considering the price.

Frequency Response

Published on 2016-01-07 17:40:45 (GMT)
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