Synergy
It’s a very efficient IEM that can go loud with small tail-styled dongle DACs, without any distortion issue if kept at a reasonable volume level, and can take power and go louder than any 10mm single DD IEMs without struggling.
However, it needs careful pairing, as some sources could make it sound cold.
Avoid DAC/amplifiers or digital audio players that have elevated sound around the lower treble area, as they exacerbate the upper midrange in the perceived response of the MK12 Turris.
It sounds worse with my old dongle DACs that utilize earlier generation ESS converter chips, but they sound fine with some neutral sources, such as the Topping G5, Shanling M3X, and iBasso DC-Elite.
It sounds best with sources that do not accentuate the lower treble, such as the MUSE HiFi M5 Ultra, FiiO M15S, LETSHUOER DT03, and the tiny and inexpensive Celest CD-2.
Select Comparisons
SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat
Technical
The SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat uses a single dynamic driver created by a special process to make a diaphragm they call SDPGD, or sputter deposition purple-gold diaphragm.
It is a multi-layer deposition of fine gold into a transparent layer, done several times, and takes longer to make than a normal diaphragm. To make it rigid, the purple color is the result of the interference principle of light when reflected from the coatings.
A 6mm passive radiator was used to tune the bass, and three different nozzles were included to tune the overall sound. I used the silver nozzles as it is my preferred sound.
It is priced at a more expensive $219 but has more intricacies in its design and a more luxurious look and feel.
Design
It has a mirror-finished chrome full metal shell that is accented by a gold vent and a glass faceplate. There is a good weight to it, and it feels like a luxurious product due to its excellent build quality and finish.
Two vents are used to ensure no pressure build-up occurs, for comfort during long listening sessions.
Performance
The EA1100 is a neutral-bright IEM with very flat bass and lower midrange, with a hint of warmth to the sound; its upper midrange and treble are elevated. The MK12 Turris sounds more bassy, warm, and dark in the upper treble by comparison.
In terms of the technicalities, both have a big sound stage, but the EA1000 has a wider sound stage, and the MK12 Turris has a deeper sound stage.
The EA100 beats the MK12 Turris in terms of left-to-right panning of the instruments by having a more extreme lateral spread. However, the MK12 Turris beats the EA1000 in how deeply the front-to-back layering of instruments is and the cleanliness of the background decay of the instruments, where they linger longer and sound clearer.
Both of them have a very good imaging performance, but the EA1000’s imaging is more defined and tighter with more intimate vocals.
DUNU Falcon Ultra Ti
Technical
The Falcon Ultra Ti uses a lithium-magnesium alloy dome fused with a soft and compliant suspension, which makes up its diaphragm. It is supposed to be rigid, but not as rigid as the pure magnesium used in the MK12 Turris.
It is a single dynamic driver IEM that includes two tuning nozzles. The silver nozzles were used instead of the gold nozzles
Design
The DUNU Falcon Ultra Ti is small but with a good weight to it, as the shells are made of stainless steel. A polished titanium-looking finish with a shape that looks futuristic completes the aesthetics of the Falcon Ultra Ti.
There are nice-looking vents with metal mesh for the back cavity of the shell and another vent near the nozzle to prevent pressure build-up.
And on top, it is terminated with an MMCX connection, which is not the most popular connection today, and is hard to remove when new. On a positive note, it has a lower chance of the IEMs falling off.
Performance
The Falcon Ultra Ti is tonally neutral, and the MK12 Turris sounds dark in comparison. The Falcon Ultra Ti has leaner bass, less prominent midrange, and more extended treble, while the MK12 Turris has more bass and midrange presence and a darker sounding upper treble.
In terms of technicalities, one apparent thing is the imaging in Falcon Ultra Ti, which is more defined, precise, and holographic. However, the MK12 Turris is not far behind. It just lacks the extra definition the Falcon Ultra Ti has.
When it comes to sound staging, both have a similar size, but the MK12 Turris is deeper, and the Falcon Ultra Ti is more spherical.
EarAcoustic Audio SPA Pro Max
Technical
The EarAcoustic Audio SPA Pro Max is a single dynamic driver IEM that uses an ultra-thin and ultra-rigid nano graphene diaphragm, and a motor system that achieves more than 1 Tesla of strength in its magnet gap, which should give it very high resolution.
It is priced at a more expensive $219 but has more intricacies in its design and a more luxurious look and feel. It has a thicker cable but is only available in a 3.5mm plug, and a better carrying case.
Design
The SPA Pro Max has a metal shell finished in mirror-like chrome and capped with a glass faceplate with intricate patterns; a brand logo on one side and a snake logo on the other.
The nozzle grills and the vents for the rear cavity look nice, and there is a vent near the nozzle to tune the bass and ensure no pressure buildup occurs.
Performance
The SPA Pro Max V-shaped sound signature is vastly different from the bassy-warm sound of the MK12 Turris; the SPA Pro Max has a deep V-shape sound where the midrange is laid-back and recessed in presentation.
It has a boomy sounding bass compared to the more evenly tuned bass in the MK12 Turris, and sounds less defined overall, but on the other hand, it is more fun to listen to when you are not into critical listening.
The midrange on the SPA Pro Max has less clarity and presence, but the treble is louder compared to the MK12 Turris. This is the nature of deep V-shaped tuned IEMs.
For overall technicalities, they sound about equal. They have similarly shaped and sized sound stages, with only the apparent difference in the imaging presentation, where the SPA Pro Max sounds narrower and the MK12 Turris more diffused.
My Verdict
It’s refreshing every time a new technology comes into the market, and the large 12mm 91% pure magnesium diaphragm of the MK12 Turris piqued my interest.
I’m unsure why this material hasn’t been utilized before, as it’s not overly expensive or exotic, but it may be more challenging to manufacture correctly. Nonetheless, it gave the MK12 Turris its unique sound.
I’ve heard other IEMs with 12mm dynamic drivers, and their bass and dynamic performance are undeniably better than most 10mm drivers I’ve heard,. However, because of the pure magnesium diaphragm in the MK12 Turris, none of them are as good when it comes to the technicalities.
One thing they have in common is the average upper treble performance; none excel in this area. It seems like they still need more development to truly replace the ubiquitous 10mm driver size.
But as I said, it’s not devoid of upper treble and air, it has those, and the graphs show it, perhaps it’s my hearing that is yet to get used to low-distortion highs that could sound quieter than usual.
If you are looking for an affordable IEM with a unique sound, impressive bass, dynamics, and midrange clarity, then the Hidizs MK12 Turris has it in spades. It deserves my recommendation, or at least your careful consideration.
Hidizs MK12 Turris Technical Specifications
- Driver: 12mm large dynamic driver
- Type: IEM
- External magnet: 1.5T external magnet design
- Cable Length: 1.2m
- Cable: High-purity Oxygen-free copper, silver-plated twisted pair
- Jack Type: 3.5/4.4mm
- Speaker Impedance: 32 ohms
- Sensitivity: 111dB per milliwatt
- Frequency Range: 10- 45 kHz
