Today, we have Meldrick’s review of the Yanyin Canon Pro, a hybrid single dynamic driver and six BA universal IEM with bass switch controls. It is currently priced at $399.99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. We thank Linsoul Audio for their support.
Click here to read more about Yanyin products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
Note that this article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
While Yanyin has been a bit more under the radar than more established Chi-Fi brands, they’ve been steadily raising their profile with some competitive and popular IEMs over the last year or two.
Their Canon line is a perfect example of this, beginning with the original Canon, followed by Canon II, and now their latest release, the Canon Pro.
Sporting an enhanced 1DD + 6BA driver configuration and packed with tuning switches, the Canon Pro lands right in the middle of Yanyin’s current lineup at $399.99.
This places it in a crowded price bracket with competitive monitors such as the MOONDROP Blessing 3. To see if the Canon Pro stands out among its siblings and peers, you can read my full review below.
Features
The Canon Pro manages to cram in 1 LCP dynamic driver + 6 balanced armature drivers in each ear. The precise driver grouping is a single dynamic driver for the lows, 2 BAs on the mids, 2 BAs with a focus on the highs, and the last 2 BAs for the ultra-highs.
Just like the previous entries in the Canon series, the Canon Pro comes with two tuning switches, enabling listeners to choose between 4 different tuning profiles.
While most users may not change the tuning on a track-per-track basis, this allows them to carefully lock in the sound profile that suits them the most.
The Canon Pro is rated at 18Ω impedance with a sensitivity rating of 104 dB (not stated mW or Vrms in the specifications), so it’s not that hard to drive, but more power applied does seem to equal a better performance (see page 2 of this review for more detail).
Design
Unlike most Chi-Fi IEMs, the Canon Pro comes in a one-piece 3D-printed resin shell. The main body of the shells appears pitch black under most lighting conditions, giving it a sleek and refined look.
The rear side of each shell is embedded with a gold-accented “Canon” logo and what seems to be a unit serial number, both encased smoothly within the resin. The finish has a subtle shimmer reminiscent of gold leaf, further reinstating the simple yet refined look of the body.
The Canon Pro’s faceplate is where Yanyin flexed its design expertise. The faceplate is split into 4 vertical segments, each of which has a unique color with a shimmery, almost glittery finish.
These colored decorative flakes shine brightly when light hits them just right, drawing just enough attention in daily use.
Etched on top are the Yanyin brand logo and the “Canon” model designation, both laser-precise and encased in the same resin material.
The side of each shell houses a small mesh vent, subtly integrated into the design. Just below these vents are the two tuning switches, recessed into the body.
The switches themselves are quite small and not the easiest to flip with one’s fingers. Fortunately, Yanyin includes a metal tuning tool in the box, which makes switch changes much easier and prevents accidental scratches or wear.
Comfort and Isolation
The Canon Pro is surprisingly compact and comfortable for an IEM that manages to pack so many drivers. Despite having 2 additional BA drivers over the Canon 2, the Canon Pro is largely the same size and footprint. This gives it good comfort performance.
I was able to wear the Canon Pros for multiple consecutive hours on my desk and on the go without feeling any fatigue or discomfort. Unlike other hybrid IEMs, I never found any weight-based discomfort, nor did I ever feel like the IEMs were falling out of my ears.
For a vented IEM, the Canon Pro has good isolation performance as well. I found that it was able to block most ambient conversations and background noise even without music playback.
Stock Cable
The Canon Pro comes with a high-quality 4-wire single crystal copper weave cable, terminating in your choice of 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm inputs. The model sent to us for review comes with the 3.5mm cable.
The Canon Pro’s stock cable is one of the best-feeling cables I’ve owned. It doesn’t have the same durability and ease of use as sleeved cables such as the DUNU Lyre Mini, but for a woven cable, it is tangle and microphonic resistant, while also managing to be quite durable.
My only gripe is the omission of a modular termination system. At a $399 price point, I would have appreciated the option to switch between 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations on the fly, just like on the 7Hz Aurora and DUNU Titan S2.
This would have been a significant quality of life improvement, and it’s puzzling how IEMs less than 1/3 the price manage to include it, but the Yanyin Canon Pro can’t.
Packaging & Accessories
The Canon Pro is packaged in a compact, primarily white, multi-color box with silver-etched branding, reflecting a minimalist yet premium presentation. Inside the box, users will find:
- A textured blue hard case
- The stock cable (either 2.5,3.5, or 4.4mm)
- 6x ear tips
- A VIP Card
- A tuning switch tool
I found the included hard case to be too large to be pocketable, and too large for most sling bags as well. For those who keep their IEM cases in a cluttered backpack, however, the included case does a good job of keeping everything protected.
While the unboxing experience is straightforward, the focus is clearly on supplying just enough for the user to start listening.
Sound Impressions
Unless stated otherwise, all sound impressions were done with the out-of-box tuning setting with switch 1 set to on and switch 2 set to off. While cycling through the different tuning options, I found this to be the one I preferred the most.
Bass
The Yanyin Canon Pro has a gentle U-shaped sound signature that leans quite heavily towards the warm side. The Canon Pro’s sub-bass presentation is superb, prioritizing texture and tactility rather than sheer bass quantity.
Even without an aggressive bass shelf, the low-end response carries a tactile, chest-thumping presence that you can feel more than you hear. This is particularly noticeable in electronic and disco tracks, where synth basslines have the feeling of being wrapped around the listener.
Sub-bass hits are tight, deep, and articulate, however, its mid-bass does tend to bloom into the mid-range a bit. Bass guitars, in particular, carry excellent note weight and rounded warmth, lending grooves a satisfying heft.
In disco tracks, I consistently found myself amazed at how the Canon Pro was able to highlight bass guitar strums with very good note weight and harmonics while preventing it from overpowering more delicate string instruments and vocals.
With an emphasis on note weight and texture, the Canon Pro’s bass never overpowers the mix. However, its warm presentation tends to bleed into the mids.
Mids
The Canon Pro’s midrange leans slightly warm, primarily due to the bass tuning and general tonal balance. Instruments in the lower mids can occasionally sound a little muffled, especially in tracks with dense layering.
However, vocals consistently retain strong clarity and resolution, managing to stay forward enough in the mix even when there is some smearing of instrument separation.
Vocal presentation is one of the Canon Pro’s strengths. Despite the overall warmth, both male and female vocals cut through with good detail and fidelity. They are not overly recessed and are rarely masked by the low-end.
Synths also come through clearly and have a good presence, particularly in ambient or electronic tracks.
While the Canon Pro does not deliver the most isolated or separated midrange performance, it excels in producing a relaxed-sounding midrange that does not sacrifice too much in detail and resolution.
Treble
The treble on the Canon Pro is clean and resolving, with a slightly relaxed upper tuning. It is not overly sharp or aggressive, but it presents detail with good clarity and control.
High-frequency instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, and chimes are played back with distinct attacks and natural decay. The treble avoids harsh peaks, which allows it to deliver sparkle and air without introducing sibilance or listener fatigue.
There is a noticeable smoothness in the way the Canon Pro handles less-than-ideal recordings. In IEMs with colder or more neutral treble tuning, poor mastering can result in shrill highs that overpower the rest of the mix.
The Canon Pro reduces this issue by taming those peaks while still allowing treble content to cut through the warmth of the bass and mids. This results in a more balanced sound, especially in tracks that would otherwise skew too bright.
The treble tuning also helps retain harmonic content in synths and cymbals. While not exaggerated, these upper frequencies come through with sufficient energy and texture to contribute to an engaging listen.
Imaging
Imaging is where the Canon Pro slightly underperforms, especially compared to its peers. It is still able to place individual sounds and instruments within the general soundscape, but it does so without the same pinpoint accuracy as more neutrally tuned IEMs like the Blessing 3.
Its soundstage is not particularly wide either. It can decently playback the directionality of sounds moving through the space; however, the Canon Pro does not have the same lateral width or height as the other IEMs within the price range.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
