Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the THIEAUDIO Hype 4 MKII were completed using a mixture of my main source, the Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, the Questyle CMA18P, and the Campfire Audio Relay dongle Dac/Amp.
For the review, I paired the IEMs with the stock cable and Divinus Velvet ear tips, size L.
Summary
Hype 4 MKII comes across as a more mature, cleaner take on the Hype sound. The low end is still a core part of the tuning, but it is not the “big and warm” style of the older Hype sets. It feels tighter and better controlled, with a strong sub-bass foundation. Mid-bass is more restrained this time.
The midrange has that THIEAUDIO neutral-leaning character. Vocals and instruments sound clear and well separated, with enough body to stay natural, but it is not a lush or romantic midrange.
Treble is energetic and lively, with good sparkle and air, and the separation up top is strong. It can get a bit hot on certain tracks or with bright pairings, so treble-sensitive listeners should be cautious.
Technically, I find the set quite impressive, showing strong imaging and a spacious soundstage. Overall, the Hype 4 MKII balances musical engagement with solid technical performance.
Bass
Bass is where the Hype 4 MKII feels like it shifts gears from the previous iteration.
If you have heard Hype 4 or even Hype 10, you know the bass was always enjoyable and had good quality, but it could feel a bit loose at times, and the depth was not always as convincing as the quantity suggested. I feel the Hype 4 MKII bass fixes some of those in a very obvious way.
The sub-bass has a proper floor now and gets more focus than before. It reaches deep, carries real rumble, and gives you that low-end shake when the track asks for it. You get the weight and the physical presence, but it stays tight and controlled.
A lot of that “solid foundation” feeling comes across like a direct benefit of the IMPACT2 subwoofer setup, which is the same idea THIEAUDIO is using on Monarch MKIV. It sounds more planted and more confident.
Mid-bass is handled with maturity. It hits with a clean punch, but it is not overly boosted, and it does not inflate notes just to feel bigger and more voluminous.
Kicks have impact, bass lines have body, yet there is still space left for the sub-bass to do its job. You get the rumble and the slam both in equal measures. I feel it could use a little more mid-bass, but the Hype 4 MKII is not aiming to be a bass-heavy set.
The bass is well-behaved and avoids bloating. It adds little warmth to the overall mix, just enough, not the thick, syrupy kind that makes everything feel slower. Notes are shaped clearly and feel distinct. On busy tracks, you can pick up bass lines easily.
Overall, this bass here is quite enjoyable and remains a highlight of the new tuning.
Midrange
Midrange on the Hype 4 MKII is where THIEAUDIO’s “house control” shows up the most. It walks that line between neutral and a gentle musical warmth, which they try to achieve on most of their IEMs.
Midrange is clean and neutral-leaning, but not dry. There is a bit of warmth sitting in the lower midrange. Male vocals sound filled in, guitars have a nicer body, and strings do not sound thin or lacking body. It is not thick or extra syrupy; it is just aptly natural.
The bass shelf is kept in check, so the mids do not get that hazy or get hidden behind the bass line. You do not get that warmth leaking up and messing with vocals.
The midrange stays clear and open even when the track has a heavy low-end running underneath. So vocals stay separated, and instruments do not get blurred into the bass line.
Upper mids are pushed a little forward. Female vocals get that bit of “pop” and presence, and lead instruments feel more upfront and easier to lock onto. It adds energy and openness, but it is controlled.
It also does not feel shouty or thin, and it does not turn into that hard, sharp vocal edge some sets use to fake clarity.
Resolution is solid here. You hear little textures in vocals and strings, and the midrange stays tidy most of the time. Even when the track gets busy, the midrange holds its shape.
Warm enough to sound musical, clean enough to sound honest, and balanced enough that it does not feel like the bass or treble is dragging it around.
Treble
Treble on the Hype 4 MKII has more focus than the older version. It comes in with extra energy, but it stays controlled.
There’s sparkle and air, but it doesn’t feel like THIEAUDIO chased “brightness” just to sound detailed. For some, it may come across as bright, but I don’t find it harsh or sibilant.
The lower treble has a nice crunch. Snares crack just right, cymbals have actual bite, and you get that proper metallic edge without everything turning into a splashy mess. It’s the good kind of crunch, not an edgy one.
The mid-treble and upper-treble regions get some extra focus. Hi-hats and rides sound clean and fast. You can follow the strokes and, more importantly, the space and air between them.
Even on tracks with a lot of cymbals and treble work, it does not collapse into one long, constant note. Notes stay distinct, so the top end never gets that noisy, congested feel.
Decay is handled properly as well. Cymbal hits don’t vanish instantly into thin air. It’s a natural fade that keeps things lively while still sounding realistic.
If you prefer a smooth treble, you’d find this an elevated top end overall. At times, it feels like it’s pushing a bit more energy than necessary. It likes to show its presence on tracks with lots of cymbals.
Still, it stays crisp, open, and airy without turning edgy or fatiguing. I did not find it bothering me much in long sessions.
Staging & Dynamics
The Hype 4 MKII stages in a clean, natural way. It is not trying to sound massive or do that stretched-out trick. Instead, it gives you a stage that feels properly open with good width and decent depth, and that alone keeps it from ever sounding cramped.
Even on busy tracks, it does not feel like it is fighting for space. You get plenty of room to breathe, and instrument placement stays organized. It is not a huge stage, but you won’t complain about its size either.
Imaging is spot-on. That slightly airy, sparkly top end plus the neutral-ish midrange gives instruments clean outlines, so placement is easy to track. You can point to where things sit, and small movements and pans stay sharp.
Layering is strong, too. On complex music, it holds separation well, and instruments do not collapse into each other when the mix gets dense.
The bass helps a lot with macro-dynamics because it has a solid hit and a proper foundation.
When a track calls for a big slam, the IEM can rise and punch, and that sense of impact makes the whole presentation feel more alive. It is not just “more bass”; it is bass that lands cleanly, so those big swings feel controlled rather than messy.
Micro-dynamics are good as well. It is not a flat or sleepy set. It reacts to the music, keeping the listening experience engaging even at lower volumes.
Overall, the technical performance on the Hype 4 MKII feels complete. It is capable, clean, and well-layered, but it still keeps the musical pull intact. It balances the “technical” side with the emotional side better than you would expect from this price tier.
Synergy
Efficiency
The THIEAUDIO Hype 4 MKII has an impedance of 18 Ω at 1 kHz and a sensitivity rating of 101 dB/Vrms.
The IEM can be easily driven by sources with less power, such as dongles and smartphones. It doesn’t require much power to sound adequate. With extra power, I do not find it scaling up well; rather, it gets too loud.
I find it pairs well with warm-leaning sources, as a neutral or bright-leaning source can make the treble even more emphasized. On my Lotoo PAW Gold Touch, it takes just under 30 volume steps to reach a comfortable listening level.
Source Pairings
LPGT pairs really well with the Hype 4 MKII. It adds a bit of warmth down low and gives the midrange a more emotional pull. Bass feels richer and more grounded. With the midrange, you get a nice sense of body.
Technically, this pairing also shows off what the Hype 4 MKII can do. The stage feels properly open, with good spread and a clean sense of space.
Treble is the one part I am still not fully sold on with this combo. It is not too hot for me, but there is a certain “musical glue” missing up top.
The thing is, I tried a few other sources too, and the treble character stayed largely the same. So, for me, LPGT still ends up being the best overall balance, even if it does not fix that last bit of treble behavior.
On the Questyle CMA18P, the Hype 4 MKII can sound a bit too spicy for my taste. The upside is dynamics. The extra power wakes the IEM up, hits feel stronger, and the sound opens up with a bit more width.
Tonally, it is not miles away from the LPGT, but it does not sound as musical or as detailed, and the treble presence is more noticeable.
Campfire Audio’s Relay is another good pairing. It adds warmth and body to the low end and lower mids, which works well with the Hype 4 MKII’s slightly leaner tilt. Treble feels tamer overall, even though I do notice a slightly more lifted upper-treble sheen.
The Relay also powers the Hype 4 MKII well enough that you do not lose the spacious stage, so it stays a practical, easy pairing if you want a fuller tone without killing the technical side.
