Synergy
I’m happy to report that the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition never caused any noise in all the sources I paired it with; the cable picked up no radio frequency interference, and it is not sensitive enough for me to hear the noise floor of the sources being used.
Although not sensitive enough to pick up the noise floor of the source, the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition is slightly above average in sensitivity and easy to drive, which means that most, even small, dongles with a lower power rating could easily drive it sufficiently.
Pairings
Thanks to the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition’s easy drivability and power sensitivity, there is little to worry about when it comes to the power output limitations of most low- and medium-powered sources available today, as long as you don’t overdrive the volumes.
Its warm tonality makes it easily compatible with most sources and is unlikely to cause fatigue in listeners sensitive to upper midrange and treble frequencies.
What matters most with the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition is the size of the source’s soundstage, as I find it particularly sensitive in this regard. Sources with a small soundstage prevent it from reaching its full potential.
For example, paired with the FiiO M15S, the soundstage is more expansive than deep, while there is good lateral separation and panning of the images, the front-to-back layering suffers.
Then I switched to the MUSE HiFi M5 Ultra in its tube output mode, and I noticed a deeper soundstage, with front-to-back imaging improved. However, the width became narrower, resulting in a more compressed presentation of the music.
Finally, I switched to the iBasso DC-Elite, and I heard the best staging among the three sources in this review. There is a noticeable increase in width, height, and depth, and the imaging became more holographic.
Selected Comparisons
DUNU Falon Ultra Ti
Technical & Design
The DUNU Falcon Ultra uses a 10.7mm 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. Interchangeable tuning nozzles. It has an impedance of 16Ω and a sensitivity of 108 dB/mw.
The Falcon Ultra has a small shell with a substantial feel, as the shells are made entirely of stainless steel.
A polished titanium-looking finish with a shape that looks futuristic completes the aesthetics of the Falcon Ultra Ti. It includes a high-quality MMCX cable, but it is thin and easily tangled.
Performance
The Falcon Ultra is tonally very neutral and accurate, with just a slight warmth in the lower midrange, compared to the warmer and darker tonality of the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition, with thicker and heavier instrument note weight.
Both have about equal soundstage size, but the Falcon Ultra has a slightly bigger, wider soundstage with a more spherical shape. I find the Falcon Ultra image better, with a noticeably more defined image and better image holography.
Both are dynamic-sounding, but the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition is more bass-heavy, while the Falcon Ultra is dynamic across the frequency range.
TWISTURA Woodnote
Technical & Design
The TWISTURA Woodnote features a 10mm dual-magnet, dual-chamber dynamic driver with a wood dome composite diaphragm. It has an impedance of 18Ω and a sensitivity of 125 dB.
The Woodnote uses CNC-machined aluminum alloy ear shells and interchangeable tuning nozzles.
It has a clean-looking design with minimal art. It includes a lovely, thick, 2-pin, two-core copper cable with metal parts and interchangeable plugs.
Performance
Using the standard nozzles and the green-grey ear tips, both have a very similar sound signature, which is warm, bassy, and slightly V-shaped. However, I find the Woodnote to have more sub-bass presence and less treble presence.
Regarding sound staging and imaging, they are very similar, and I find it difficult to distinguish between them. Still, if I must, I’d say the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition has a slightly wider stage, while the Woodnote is deeper.
The Woodnote has a more laid-back imaging presentation than the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition.
Both are similar when it comes to dynamics; they are both engaging with their bassy and energetic sound, and both are fun to listen to, especially with bassy tracks.
Hidizs MK12 Turris
Technical & Design
The MK12 Turris is the original version of the Limited Gradient-tint Titanium edition. It has the same 12 mm magnesium diaphragm driver but with a more mundane aluminum alloy shell rather than the more exotic Titanium. It has an impedance of 32Ω and a sensitivity of 111 dB.
Similar in shape to the Titanium Alloy Edition, except that the color of my MK12 Turris review sample is blue. Interchangeable tuning nozzles. There is only one included cable that is similar to the Titanium Alloy Edition.
The original MK12 is noticeably lighter than the Titanium Alloy Edition, 9.8 grams for MK12 vs 14.7 grams for the Titanium Alloy Edition.
Performance
Using the same gold nozzles and the white regular bore tips on both, they sound similar but not the same.
While I couldn’t easily tell them apart in the bass, it is apparent to me that the original MK12 Turris has an upper midrange coloration and a slightly dull upper treble extension.
The MK12 Turris Titanium Edition has no coloration or perceived peak in the upper midrange, and the upper treble is more extended, giving it a better micro-detail rendition compared to the original MK12 Turris.
They have similar dynamics, but in terms of soundstage, the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition has a bigger and more spacious soundstage due to its more extended upper treble, which produces a more spacious sound.
In terms of imaging, they are very similar, but I find the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition has more defined edges.
My Verdict
To answer the question whether the Hidizs MK12 Turris Titanium Edition is worth getting over the original versions, the answer is yes, as there is a clear improvement in sound quality, making the MK12 Turris Titanium Edition a step above in terms of sound.
I like the tonality, but what I like the most is the midrange, which is clean and clear-sounding, though it is not a mid-centric tuned set, and I’m not a midrange-centric-loving listener.
Something is mesmerizing with its sounds that makes me come back for more, despite having many other IEMs available.
What I wish is improved, though, is the treble; I wish it were smoother, and I also want the shells to be lighter. And I almost forgot, I wish the cable were thicker to lessen the likelihood of tangling.
That said, the single 12mm dynamic driver Hidizs MK12 Turris Titanium Edition IEM offers a unique sound quality compared to other IEMs, as well as improvements over the original version, making it worth considering and thus recommended.
Hidizs MK12 Turris Titanium Edition Technical Specifications
- Driver: 12mm 91% Pure Magnesium™ M-shaped Dome Diaphragm 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: 32Ω
- Sensitivity: 111 dB/mW
- Frequency Range: 10- 45 kHz
- Nozzle Diameter: 6.1mm
- Weight: 14.7 grams
