Marcelo reviews the Hidizs MS2 PRO, a new single 10.2mm dynamic and Silvercore BA driver IEM with Pneumatic Sound Tuning Filter technology. It is priced at $99.99 with early-bird prices as low as $69 for the first 100 units sold.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Hidizs for their support.
Click here to read more about Hidizs products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics
Please note that this article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
I was always curious to hear Hidizs MS2 PRO’s predecessor, the MS2, since it was released more than four years ago, but I haven’t had the chance to listen to it.
Luckily, I got to hear the newly released MS2 PRO, which shares a similar driver configuration with the old MS2, featuring one dynamic driver and one balanced armature driver in a hybrid setup.
The MS2 PRO, priced at $99, isn’t the first Hidizs IEM I’ve heard, as I had the opportunity to listen to the MS5 and the popular planar IEM, the MP145, which is the first affordably priced one with great sound.
I also had the opportunity to hear the MP143 Salt last year and the Turris MK12 this year, which is the first large dynamic driver to utilize a pure magnesium diaphragm. I like how Hidizs keeps on releasing innovative products.
Although I haven’t seen the older MS2 in person, based on the photos I’ve seen, it is apparent that the new MS2 PRO is an upgrade due to its more elaborate design and the full metal shell as opposed to the plastic shell of the MS2.
I’m curious about how MS2 PRO compares to other recently released 1+1 configured IEMs, including the Kotori Audio Zephyr, Celest Ignite X Beast, and 7Hz Sonus. Let’s find out in the review below.
Features
The MS2 PRO is a hybrid IEM that features a 10.2mm N52 Dual-Magnetic Circuit & Dual-Cavity Hybrid Driver PU+PEEK Composite Diaphragm with Nanoscale DLC Coating and Hidizs’ own design Silver core BA™ High-Frequency Balanced Armature Driver.
A cast alloy made of Zinc with a mirror finish serves as a shell to reduce any resonance that adds coloration to the sound to zero.
The MS2 PRO features changeable tuning nozzles, includin three types of nozzles and two kinds of ear tips, providing a total of six sound tuning styles to suit a broader range of listeners. The tuning style includes Harman’s 2019 target curve as well as Hidizs’ tuning styles.
An above-average sensitivity of 111 dB and a moderate load of 17 ohms are welcome features, which means the MS2 PRO should be easy to load with any amplification source available, and I confirm this.
A properly functioning pressure release is also included with the MS2 PRO, a critical and often overlooked feature in IEMs, which prevents pressure build-up in the ear canal that can cause nausea and headaches.
Design
The MS2 PRO features a full-metal zinc alloy shell with a mirror-finish design and a leather cover on the faceplate. My review sample is orange, but it is also available in black and blue.
Due to its use of a full metal shell, each weighs 13 grams, which is above average but not too heavy. Luckily, the shell size is average, and the nozzle width is also average at 5.9mm in diameter.
Although the included high-purity silver-plated OFC Hybrid Wire Cable is not thick, it is surprisingly resistant to tangling, which I find beneficial for portability. Unfortunately, it is not a modular cable, but it is available in 4.4 and 3.5mm plugs.
Comfort & Isolation
The Hidizs MS2 PRO’s average shell and nozzle size of 5.9mm diameter, combined with well-designed stock ear tips, make this set a very comfortable IEM to use during long listening sessions.
Even though some parts of the shell have an angular design, the part near the nozzle is ergonomically shaped, and no part of it presses on the skin, which can cause pressure fatigue during long listening sessions.
The average-sized nozzles and nice stock ear tips allow it to be securely inserted into my ears with a good grip, fit, and comfort.
Sound isolation is comparable to most IEMs I’ve used, which is average. I visited a mall and a noisy coffee shop, and the sound isolation allowed me to enjoy the music without being bothered by external noise, just like most IEMs I’ve used recently.
Packaging & Accessories
I had a good unboxing experience with the MS2 PRO; it features a simplistic packaging style, utilizing a thick-walled, high-quality-feeling black box with prints highlighting the MS2 PRO.
Aside from including three tuning nozzles, the MS2 PRO accessories are minimal in number. The package consists of a user manual, a warranty card, a carrying pouch, a cable, six pairs of ear tips, three pairs of tuning nozzles, and a pair of IEMs.
Sound Impressions
I used a mix of different sources with the MS2 PRO; from budget to mid-priced, and power output from low to high, including the Celest CD-2, xDuoo Link10, iBasso DC Elite, HiBy R3Pro II, and Shanling M3 Plus.
I completed my standard 24-hour burn-in for IEMs by leaving it playing with a spare DAP at moderate volume, and I kept busy with other matters, checking in periodically.
I felt that it was still not enough, as I didn’t think the background decay was as clean as it could be. So, I added 8 hours more of burn-in time at a higher volume, and then I felt it had achieved a complete burn-in, as I didn’t hear any changes after that.
Objective Impressions
I measured a very good channel balance from the MS2 PRO, with the left and right channels measuring very close to each other, indicating a high level of manufacturing quality.
Three different tuning nozzles, along with two types of ear tips, enable the MS2 PRO to offer a total of six distinct sound styles.
The white curve, corresponding to the white-ringed nozzle, is the most normal-sounding of the three; it has a nice upper midrange presence and has a V-shaped sound signature.
The red and black curves, corresponding to red and black ringed nozzles, respectively, exhibit subdued upper midrange presence and feature a U-shaped sound signature.
Hidizs mentioned Harman’s 2019 tuning on their product page and that the black-ringed tuning nozzle and black ear tips would yield the closest sound to Harman’s 2019 tuning, while still retaining their unique tuning characteristics.
To my ears, the white-ringed nozzle and black ear tips sound the closest to Harman tuning, which is the combination I use in this review and the one I like the most.
A sharp peak at 8 kHz is both a measurement artifact caused by a resonance in the cavity inside the measuring tool, and it is also slightly audible in real listening, as I detect a minor peak and extra sibilance in the sound.
A strange, sharp response dip at 12.2 kHz is unusual to me; a destructive interaction between the drivers could cause it, but it is more likely caused by an internal reflection that resulted in cancellation. This peculiarity is audible, and I will discuss this further down the review.
Subjective Impressions
Of the six total combinations between the three types of nozzles and the two types of ear tips, my preferred combination is the white-ringed nozzles and the black ear tips.
This combination gives a good upper midrange presence with a V-shaped sound signature; the black ear tips are less bright than the white ear tips.
The MS2 PRO features a moderately V-shaped sound signature, characterized by a moderately boosted bass and treble presentation, with only a slight recession in the midrange.
It has an overall slightly bright tonality, though not too bright for me; however, people who are sensitive to treble might find it bright-sounding.
The MS2 PRO bass is midbass-focused with good subbass extension when the music demands it. It has a taut and boosted presentation that is never bloated-sounding; details are rendered cleanly with good articulation. Overall, a good sounding bass that is universally likable.
Midrange response is flat, smooth, and slightly recessed. It strikes a good balance between the lower and upper midrange, resulting in vocals and instruments that are full-sounding with good body and note weight, yet remain detailed and precise at the same time.
The treble is elevated, and there are perceived peaks above 3 kHz, but they don’t sound too harsh; instead, they lend the treble a slight grainy texture and extra sibilance, making it less smooth.
On the positive note, the balance armature integration is good, as I didn’t hear inter-driver coherence issues even at louder volumes.
There is also some sort of audible suck out in response in the upper treble, which translates into lesser perceived air, making the upper treble sound slightly dry, which is shown in the graph I measured, but I noticed it even before measuring.
Coloration
There is minimal sound coloration with the MS2 PRO, except for the ones mentioned above. Using the red and Black nozzle would create a U-shaped sound, along with the associated coloration, such as dark vocals and elevated upper treble with slight sharpness.
And again, the perceived response peaks in the treble, adding a little grain to the instruments and extra sibilance to the vocals, but still falls within the norm; they are not too obtrusive.
The response anomaly in the upper treble renders the treble drier and less airy than it should be. However, they are not too obvious; it’s just an observation.
Soundstage, Imaging, & Dynamics
The MS2 PRO’s soundstage is average in size, which I attribute to its slightly dry treble presentation, preventing it from conveying a significant amount of spatial information from the music.
It is not bad, just average; there is still good depth, width, and height, just like most IEMs in the under $200 price bracket.
Imaging performance is good, despite its average soundstage size; I find the imaging above average, thanks to the good upper midrange presence achieved with the white-ringed nozzle and black ear tips combination.
Although not the best I’ve heard, the images exhibit a reassuring stability and consistency, with good definition and spatial separation from one another.
There is also consistent left-to-right panning of the images. Center vocals are delineated and stable, while the background instruments take their place behind the singer. Overall, a good imaging performance.
Thanks to MS2 PRO’s high actual sensitivity and power handling, the dynamic performance is good. Music is rendered with appropriate dynamics, preventing it from sounding lethargic and boring.
There is good punch in the bass and lovely snaps in the midrange and treble. However, I find the resolution to be average, regardless of the nozzle and ear tip combination used.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
