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Topping Hane IEM Review

Rate this IEM:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 16 8.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 45 23.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 135 68.9%

  • Total voters
    196
Only cheap linen pouch, no foam tips, no other but simple tips, no flanged tips, mhhhh ...... It's a no for me, stick with my Truthears so far .....
Hi, my first post on the forum.

I bought the Hane a month or so ago. You are correct on the accessories. The pouch, for example, isn't even fit for purpose as it's too small.

However, I get on really well with the included silicone 'spring tips', and I had a spare iem case that fits them perfectly, so I don't use the pouch.

I bought a usual bargain Aliexpress balanced cable for them, which I always like to do, matching colour, looks and cable feel only, as I'm not a believer in sound differences ( at least that I can hear ) in iem and headphone cables.

I'm using the Hane in default 0000 switch mode as I really enjoy the default tuning, having briefly played around with the switches. My ibasso dx300 drives them with ease, as it should, but they clearly require more power than any of my other iems.

The comfort, for me, on this iem is exceptional, and I find that's half the battle with iems.

This is my second favourite iem from the ones I have, with the NF Audio NA2 being my favourite.
 
Here are some thoughts about the EQ.
`Please report your findings, positive or negative!

Notes about the EQ design:
  • The average L/R is used to calculate the score.
  • The resolution is 12 points per octave interpolated from the raw data (provided by @amirm)
  • A Genetic Algorithm is used to optimize the EQ.
  • The EQ Score is designed to MAXIMIZE the Score WHILE fitting the Harman target curve (and other constrains) with a fixed complexity.
    This will avoid weird results if one only optimizes for the Score, start your journey here or there.
    There is a presentation by S. Olive here.
    It will probably flatten the Error regression doing so, the tonal balance should be therefore more neutral.
  • The EQs are starting point and may require tuning (certainly at LF and maybe at HF).
  • The range around and above 10kHz is usually not EQed unless smooth enough to do so.
  • I am using PEQ (PK) as from my experience the definition is more consistent across different DSP/platform implementations than shelves.
  • With some HP/amp combo, the boosts and preamp gain (loss of Dynamic range) need to be carefully considered to avoid issues with, amongst other things, too low a Max SPL or damaging your device. You have beed warned.
  • Not all units of the same product are made equal. The EQ is based on the measurements of a single unit. YMMV with regard to the very unit you are trying this EQ on.
  • I sometimes use variations of the Harman curve for some reasons. See rational here and here
  • NOTE: the score then calculated is not comparable to the scores derived from the default Harman target curve if not otherwise noted.
  • Occluding IE devices generally must have very good fitting/seal in the user's ear canal for best performance.
    please spend a few minutes to pick up the best ear tip... Be sure to perform this step otherwise the FR/Score/EQ presented here are just worthless.
  • 1. more bass = better seal
    2. More isolation from the outside world = better fit
    3. Comfort

Good L/R match.

I have generated one EQ, the APO config file is attached.

Score no EQ: 84.7%
Score 1: 96.4%
Score 2 (HF): 96.3% (to illustrate that what'a happening above 10k does not influence the score)

Code:
Topping Hane Harman EQ
December292024-212552

Preamp: -2.00 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 321.9 Hz Gain -1.30 dB Q 0.27
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 643.3 Hz Gain 3.12 dB Q 1.10
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4871.1 Hz Gain -3.03 dB Q 4.20
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 6196.9 Hz Gain 3.64 dB Q 1.37

Topping Hane Harman Full EQ
December292024-212156

Preamp: -2.20 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 343.6 Hz Gain -1.36 dB Q 0.27
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 638.8 Hz Gain 3.12 dB Q 1.10
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4900.1 Hz Gain -3.53 dB Q 3.15
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 6173.4 Hz Gain 4.29 dB Q 1.28
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 12626.9 Hz Gain -7.03 dB Q 5.04

View attachment 417194
just to be sure: you started from the FR of the IEM with switch 2 on and calculated all the rest based on that, is that correct? From the graph I’d say so, but one is never too sure. Thank you :D
 
Are they smaller / lighter or is the cable more supple? That would be something to convince me to try the Hane in place of the Zero 2 which is somewhat uncomfortabel to wear.
Out of the iems I own (NFAudio NA2, NF2u and Letshouer S12) the Hane is the most comfortable for me. Its form factor is also very nice, being lightweight but very well built, fits pretty much flushed to my ear and is comfortable even when laying on my side.

The cable is most noteworthy by its extended length compared to most stock cables. It also has a nice feel to it. However, since it's single ended, I bought a balanced cable as this is always my preference. I'm not a fan of right angled jacks either. If you're happy with single ended and right angled cable termination, then this is a very nice stock cable IMHO.

Oh, and if looks is your thing, that turquoisey 3d feather effect ( Hane means plummage or feather in Japanese I believe? ) on the shells is really rather eye catching! Not that I'd be keeping or buying any iem on looks alone you understand, lol.
 
Try using Moondrop Spring tips with it. From experience and from the measurements of some other users, it has a tendency to smoothen out treble peaks
I believe the supplied ribbed silicone tips provided are Moondrop spring tips, aren't they? (I don't own any moondrops iems to know, but read that they're the same).

They are the tips I use and I don't get any treble peaks on the default 0000 switching. Having said that, my ears are pretty old and so I most likely wouldn't be so prone to hearing some treble peaks as younger listeners.
 
Thanks, but I prefer to avoid peaky IEMs altogether, instead of makeshift solutions after having contracted unnecessary difficulties.
I wouldn't call these peaky iems, from my experience, but of course, that may not turn out to be the case for you.

The do have the ribbed spring tips supplied with them and the switches would help with smoothing out any treble peaks, if heard. I wouldn't call these makeshift solutions personally, but granted, some might.

As with all these things, you really wouldn't know without actually hearing them for yourself.
 
I believe the supplied ribbed silicone tips provided are Moondrop spring tips, aren't they? (I don't own any moondrops iems to know, but read that they're the same).
I have seen on many measurements of other IEMs that spring tips have a tendency to flatten upper treble peaks. It might be interesting to measure them with these tips and to check if the peak goes away.
 
I have seen on many measurements of other IEMs that spring tips have a tendency to flatten upper treble peaks. It might be interesting to measure them with these tips and to check if the peak goes away.
From what you quoted it sounds like they are already the tips used in the measurements though
 
I measured these too, got basically the same results:
 

Attachments

  • Arpegear Hane.pdf
    394.4 KB · Views: 118
  • Arpegear Hane (USound Target).pdf
    352.6 KB · Views: 79
From the picture it looks like the pink panther wears crocs :D
 
Same here to some degree, but, is it actually necessary to stick them into in a literal sense? There should be a guideline showing via a diagram what the word of 'put in' means. Those famous Etymotics go deep by design, but that cannot be true with standard eartips of like 10 to 13+mm diameter.

I came to the solution to kind of, mildly, lubricating the silicone with some saliva ... shame on me :rolleyes: Then it sits just upfront front of the narrowing part of the ear canal like 1mm deep max. The cirumference of the silicone holds it pressing against the inner skin of the pinna. Seal is perfect.
You can get more comfortable and nicer tips in SS size from number of tip makers. The very popular Spinfits are one of them. I brought Latex H570 Feaulle Wide bore tips - soft and grippy, way more comfortable than most stock tips. But I had to additionally correct EQ for my Galileo to compensate for the tip.
The thing is that depending on the bore size they affect the sound more or less. Wider bore boost upper mids and highs, while increasing soundstage size. The narrow bore does the opposite. So depending on what the IEM came with originally and what tip was used for development/measurements, the aftermarket tip you buy may change the tonal balance.
Hope this article will help (yeah, the IEMs are rules by their own magical laws of physics)


BTW, ARTII R2 supposedly have small size shells and good comfort (softer, warmer sound than majority of the ChiFi gang).
 
Hope this article will help (yeah, the IEMs are rules by their own magical laws of physics)

There are no magical laws of physics…
That we can’t fully measure how these laws apply in the (complex) interactions of a given IEM on an individual ear canal is another story, but it doesn’t involve magic.

Oh, and the Audioreviews article you linked appears to be entirely based on subjective impressions. As good as they may be, they are just that—subjective…
 
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There are no magical laws of physics…
That we can’t fully measure how these laws apply in the (complex) interactions of a given IEM on an individual ear canal is another story, but it does this involve magic.

Oh, and the Audioreviews article you linked appears to be entirely based on subjective impressions. As good as they may be, they are just that—subjective…
I know it's not magic once you get to know them, but to someone who doesn't possess all the knowledge required to understand IEMs, some of them might will sound like magic. Ask regular, average person on the street and will have no idea what you are talking about, unless it'll be someone like Crinacle.
 
There are no magical laws of physics…
That we can’t fully measure how these laws apply in the (complex) interactions of a given IEM on an individual ear canal is another story, but it does this involve magic.

Oh, and the Audioreviews article you linked appears to be entirely based on subjective impressions. As good as they may be, they are just that—subjective…
There’s no need to be dogmatic. One can also refer to the “magical” laws of physics as in “incredible”. We are all grown ups here and know that magic doesn’t exist, even though, I must say, sometimes reality is more beautiful and amazing than what you find in literature under the word “magic”. We simply lack fantasy I suppose.. Anyway, once the soundwave is formed, but it hasn’t already reached your eardrum, that’s the moment sound is most prone to be corrupted. It’s in its most delicate state. As you would know, with full size speakers one likes to equalize the room he’s in because of this. So the path between the nozzle and the eardrum is the most delicate part of the audio chain in an IEM and can be corrupted. Of course one would prefer an extensive library of tips measured vs a standard monitor and even then that would be an approximation of what MIGHT happen with your monitor, but we don’t have it. So the best thing we can do is look at the tip’s shape and bore size in stock photos and hope for the best. Ideally one should stick with the tips used when the IEM was measured, but they can be uncomfortable or show some problems. For example I own CHU II that tend to slip out of my ear with the stock tips. A library of subjective experience in this regard is better than nothing and can serve you as a database for tips if you don’t know them. Of course we are going to take the subjective POV for what it is (almost nothing and just a hint of the direction sound may take) and ponder it adequately.
 
Ideally one should stick with the tips used when the IEM was measured, but they can be uncomfortable or show some problems. For example I own CHU II that tend to slip out of my ear with the stock tips.
Fully agree: seal, fit, and comfort can be a deal breaker, regardless of how good the IEM FR is.

A library of subjective experience in this regard is better than nothing and can serve you as a database for tips if you don’t know them.
And how should I use the “library” linked by @Paweł L to determine whether a particular tip will work for me & my IEM?
 
Fully agree: seal, fit, and comfort can be a deal breaker, regardless of how good the IEM FR is.


And how should I use the “library” linked by @Paweł L to determine whether a particular tip will work for me & my IEM?
How you like it, this is a hobby, not a job. I personally find it useful to find new brands and I find it useful if the reviewer writes that, for instance, the bore is smaller or larger than average. I already know from experience how it changes the sound and anyway I want to stick with something that’s more similar possible to the tip used when my IEM was measured, this way I can eq more easily. More than anything I use photos to try and see that it is what I need, so the more photos I have, the better. It’s way far from ideal (even some length and width measurements of the tip and of the bore would be better, but I can’t find even those), but it’s the best I found so far.
 
How you like it, this is a hobby, not a job. I personally find it useful to find new brands and I find it useful if the reviewer writes that, for instance, the bore is smaller or larger than average. I already know from experience how it changes the sound and anyway I want to stick with something that’s more similar possible to the tip used when my IEM was measured, this way I can eq more easily. More than anything I use photos to try and see that it is what I need, so the more photos I have, the better. It’s way far from ideal (even some length and width measurements of the tip and of the bore would be better, but I can’t find even those), but it’s the best I found so far.
OT, but you may want to look at Oratory’s comments (was linked in another thread about ear tips):

As long as the seal is ensured… not a large difference…
 
OT, but you may want to look at Oratory’s comments (was linked in another thread about ear tips):

As long as the seal is ensured… not a large difference…
I don’t know how to move the conversation and I don’t even know if I can do it or what to do in these cases. I suspect Oratory’s talking about the standard eartips and I fully agree on that. I also agree that a changing in material and shape, say memory foam vs silicone, changes a little bit, but it’s still ok, not a deal breaker. I experienced it from Etymotic ER4SR which come with memory foam and triple flange tips. But in my experience tip bore changes the sound a lot. The vast majority are standard and are all the same, but there are also narrow bore that dramatically change the sound. I am thinking about Truthear Zero Red which is thought to be used with narrow bore tips. If you use it with standard tips it sounds awful. When I had it I searched for some liquid silicone eartips with narrow bore, but didn’t find them and had to stick with the stock ones. Maybe this library would’ve helped me, I don’t know. Sorry for the OT, I won’t worsen my position as an OT spammer no more so I am leaving it at that, or we can start another thread, but I don’t know how to do it including you.
 
I have and really enjoy my Pro 2s. I get it, they're extremely convenient.

I have a KSE1200 system that I've tuned first w/ a corrected Harmann curve, then did sweeps to get it dialed in to what sounds flat to my ears. There is a pretty wide gulf in audio quality between the Airpods and these. With the right tips, it also isolates better and have a similar comfort in ear (aside from the hefty cable). I only use this when I'm working at a stationary place for more than an hour or so.

Also travel with some Zero Reds but really only use these in situations where I need a plug, like an airplane. The quality improvement is just not enough over Airpods.

That said, 80% of the time I use my Airpods and the quality is certainly good enough. Very much looking forward to the Pro 3s which should be released later this year.
A review about airpods pro would be nice to understand if the peq is good enough and if the IEMs have enough low distortion so to eq them easily. TWS earbuds are the final game, very practical, and we’ll get there sooner or later, but I thought they are not up to the task right now. I have the nothing ear 2 and they are simply not good enough, I just use the noise cancelling when I’m at the gym, but never listen to music with those. They also have a peq, but it’s not customisable enough and the IEMs respond well-ish sort of. Truth to be told, their bad quality as a TWS is infamous. Of course I discovered it later on. Anyway I always thought that Airpods and even Samsung buds (which many people say are the best) were yes better, but still not good enough. Are we approaching the moment in which they are going to become gold? I’d like that :D
 
I don’t know how to move the conversation and I don’t even know if I can do it or what to do in these cases. I suspect Oratory’s talking about the standard eartips and I fully agree on that. I also agree that a changing in material and shape, say memory foam vs silicone, changes a little bit, but it’s still ok, not a deal breaker. I experienced it from Etymotic ER4SR which come with memory foam and triple flange tips. But in my experience tip bore changes the sound a lot. The vast majority are standard and are all the same, but there are also narrow bore that dramatically change the sound. I am thinking about Truthear Zero Red which is thought to be used with narrow bore tips. If you use it with standard tips it sounds awful. When I had it I searched for some liquid silicone eartips with narrow bore, but didn’t find them and had to stick with the stock ones. Maybe this library would’ve helped me, I don’t know. Sorry for the OT, I won’t worsen my position as an OT spammer no more so I am leaving it at that, or we can start another thread, but I don’t know how to do it including you.
To your point there's a good amount of FR data demonstrating non-zero FR differences between foam and silicone tips, and even between silicone tips. Arguably the audible impact could be discussed. Probvably best to enourage everyone to try things for them selves before treating the words of experts as gospel. Because words don't always provide a full context. A part of oratory1990s work is creating EQ profiles, which for technical reasons become less reliable in the upper treble, the same frequency range where eartip FR differences are the largest.
 
A review about airpods pro would be nice to understand if the peq is good enough and if the IEMs have enough low distortion so to eq them easily. TWS earbuds are the final game, very practical, and we’ll get there sooner or later, but I thought they are not up to the task right now. I have the nothing ear 2 and they are simply not good enough, I just use the noise cancelling when I’m at the gym, but never listen to music with those. They also have a peq, but it’s not customisable enough and the IEMs respond well-ish sort of. Truth to be told, their bad quality as a TWS is infamous. Of course I discovered it later on. Anyway I always thought that Airpods and even Samsung buds (which many people say are the best) were yes better, but still not good enough. Are we approaching the moment in which they are going to become gold? I’d like that :D

AFA the frequency response, there's plenty of measurements out there for the AP2, but with the caveat that Apple is likely doing some sort of extra contouring w/ Adaptive EQ and then there is the optional audiogram functionality. But the measurements themselves seem fairly consistent and aren't quite best in class if we're using Harman as the yardstick.
 
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