7HZ Timeless AE IEM Review
7HZ Timeless AE IEM Review
Introduction:
7HZ is a Chinese brand that has been established in 2012, which is located in Qingdao which is a province in Mainland China. However since their products have been mainly sold in China, the company didn’t get much attention till the release of the Timeless that I will now review for you.
The 7Hz Timeless AE is a brand new special edition of the Original Timeless and has been designed in collaboration with “AngelEars”. The Timeless AE comes with the same 14.2mm diameter Planar Magnetic Driver that has been used inside the OG Timeless, while it is tuned to produce a 3dB boost in the lows along with some improvements in terms of Treble and Midrange response. The Timeless AE follows the same monitor design of the OG Timeless that is made from 5-Axis CNC machined aluminum material, while it has a different color, which is now in Blue.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Linsoul for providing the 7HZ Timeless AE sample for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Linsoul or 7HZ beyond this review and all these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The actual price of the 7HZ Timeless AE is 259.99 US$. More information’s can be found under the links below;
Package and Accessories:
The fancy looking rectangular box of the 7HZ Timeless AE comes with the following contents/accessories;
- 1 x pair of 7HZ Timeless Universal IEM
- 1 x 2-Pin Detachable Cable with Modular Design
- 3 x Modular Headphone Plugs (3.5mm SE, 2.5mm Balanced & 4.4mm Balanced)
- 4 x pairs of Semi Transparent Silicone Ear Tips (1x pair came pre-installed)
- 3 x pairs of Silicone Ear Tips with large opening
- 3 x pairs of Blue Silicone Ear Tips with small opening
- 1 x pair of Spare Filters
- 1 x Storage Case
- 1 x Print Material (Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card, etc.)
The storage case in turquoise blue with the AngelEars logo on the top looks pretty nice.
Design & Build Quality:
The 7HZ Timeless AE shares the same unique looking monitor shape that we have seen with the Original Timeless. The housing is made from Unibody 5-Axis CNC machined aviation-grade aluminum material that has an anodized finish in blue color.
The Timeless AE comes with the same 14.2mm diameter Planar Magnetic Driver that has been used inside the OG Timeless that is equipped with an ultra-thin 2mm diaphragm coil. The main difference is the tuning that shows a 3dB boost in the lows along with some improvements in terms of Treble and Midrange response.
The faceplate has that has a circular shape reminds me to a vinyl record. Each faceplate sports a laser engraved 7HZ Timeless AE branding on the top.
At the rear side of the monitor is an angled sound nozzle with a stylish looking metal mesh on the top, which is on the front to a filter that prevents the insertion of particles such like dust or earwax.
Near the sound nozzle is a small vent to balance the pressure inside the monitor.
Here are also 3 additional openings and the L (Left) & R (Right) markings.
On the top of each monitor are 2-Pin female connectors with a diameter of 0.78mm, which is a welcome design choice compared to the MMCX connectors of the Original Timeless. My only compliant about the connectors is that they were a bit to tight when I have tried to remove the cable.
The overall build quality of the monitors is excellent same like its predecessor.
Thunderbird Modular Detachable Cable:
The 7HZ Timeless AE comes packed with a brand new 4 Core Silver-Plated Copper Wire cable that is named Thunderbird. The cable sports a soft transparent PVC outer insulation with very low amount of microphonic effect.
The 0.78mm diameter 2-Pin connectors do have protective metal housing in turquoise blue color same like the monitor housing. The connectors do have L and R markings along with red and transparent color indicators.
Near the 2-Pin connectors are flexible heat shrink ear guides on both sides that do offer extra comfort on the go.
The cable sports a y-splitter and chin slider with a fancy shape, which are made from the same metal material like the connector housing.
The Timeless AE comes with a modular headphone plug design with 4.4mm Balanced, 2.5mm Balanced and 3.5mm Single-Ended termination plugs that are included inside the box, which is a great addition that we didn’t have with the Original Timeless.
The modular plugs do have a strait profile design and do sport the 7HZ branding on the top.
Fit, Comfort & Isolation:
The 7HZ Timeless AE share the same design that we have seen with the OG Timeless. The monitors are relative lightweight with approx 5.5grams and do fit pretty well in to my ears with an average sized ear concha. I didn’t have had any comfort issues even after longer listening periods.
The passive noise isolation of 7HZ Timeless AE is on an average level, which is efficient enough for the use in relative noise environments such like public transportations including bus, metro, or trains.
Some Technical Specifications:
- Model : Timeless AE aka “AngelEars”
- Driver Configuration : 14.2mm Dia. Miniaturized Planar Magnetic Driver
- Frequency Range : 5 Hz – 40 kHz
- Sensitivity : 104dB/1kHz
- Impedance : 14.8Ω
- THD : <0.2%/1kHz
- Connector : 0.78mm dia. 2-Pin
- Cable Specs : 4 core Silver Plated Copper Wire Cable
- Cable length : 1.2m
- Weight : 5.5 grams (single earpiece)
Pairing & Drivability:
The 7HZ Timeless AE is a relative easy to driver IEM same like the Original Timeless. It shows a pretty low impedance of 14.8Ω and a sensitivity of 104dB, which makes is compatible for sources like Mobile Phones, USB DAC/Amplifier Dongles and Tablets.
However, the Timeless AE offers a better performance when you use it with more powerful sources like DAP’s (FiiO M11 Plus ESS, iBasso DX170) or DAC/Amplifier (iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon).
Equipment’s used for this review:
- IEM’s : 7HZ Timeless AE & 7HZ Timeless
- DAP&DAC’s : iBasso DX170, FiiO M11 Plus ESS, iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon
Albums & tracks used for this review:
- Adele – My Little Love (Spotify)
- Randy Crawford – On Day I Will Fly Away (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
- Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
- Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Sonya Yoncheva – (Giuseppe Verdi) II Trovatore, ActI (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- B. King – Riding With The King (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Muse – Hysteria (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Rush – YYZ (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Nobody Weird Like Me (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
- Rok Nardin – Berserks (Spotify)
- Bear McCreary – Valkyries “God of War OST” (Deezer HiFi)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Jo Blankenburg – Meraki (Spotify)
- Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
- Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The 7HZ Timeless AE is a highly dynamic sounding Planar Magnetic Driver IEM offers a very entertaining overall sound profile. The Timeless AE stands out with its pretty deep, fast and controlled bass response, slightly forward oriented midrange presentation that has a good level of transparency and resolution, and with a treble tuning that has a good sense of clarity, airiness and extension.
This review has been written after a burn-in period of 70 Hours. I have used the Stock Semi Transparent Silicone Ear Tips and the stock cable that are included to the package. My sound impressions below are mainly based on pairings with sources like the FiiO M11 Plus ESS, iBasso DX10 and iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon.
Bass:
The 14.2mm Dia. Miniaturized Planar Magnetic Driver of the 7HZ Timeless AE is able to produce pretty fast, controlled and nicely textured bass notes, from the subbass up to the midbass area. The Timeless AE is maybe not a giant killer in terms of technical performance in this area; however it can easily compete with many other IEM’s on the market in a price range between 250 – 400 USD.
The Timeless AE offers a quite exiting subbass response that produces a decent sense of rumble, extension and decay while listen to songs like Rok Nardin’s “Berserks”, Bear McCreary’s “Valkyries (God of War OST)” and Lorde’s “Royals”.
The midbass region of the 7HZ Timeless AE is nicely textured, tight and impactful along with a good level of clarity, speed and authority when I do listen to songs like Charly Antolini’s “Duwadjuwandadu” or Gogo Penguin’s “Murmuration”. Instruments like toms, snare drums and bass guitars are produced with an excellent grade of roundness and fullness.
Midrange:
The 7HZ Timeless AE has a slightly forward oriented midrange tuning and shows a slightly warmer than neutral tonality and a fairly natural timbre. The sense of airiness and transparency is above average, when I do listen to instruments and vocals.
The lower midrange of the Timeless AE is shown with an efficient sense of body and depth when I have listen to vocals or to instruments such like violas, acoustic guitars and pianos. Male voices such like Dave Gahan, Eric Clapton and Sting are reproduced with adequate weight and fullness.
The upper midrange of the 7HZ Timeless AE sounds nicely pronounced without to show any remarkable sibilance and sharpness when I do listen to female voices. Female voices like Adel, Diana Krall or Edith Piaf are reproduced in a quite musical, lively and detailed manner, which I have very enjoyed. Instruments on the on the other hand do have a relative natural timbre.
Treble:
The 7HZ Timeless AE has a fairly energetic treble tuning that is produced with a good level of extension, authority and resolution. The transitions from the upper midrange towards the lower treble (presence) area are in general pretty controlled, which has a mildly peak around the 5 kHz region.
The lower treble region is slightly less pronounced and detailed compared to the upper midrange area, but shows in general a sufficient level of extension. Instruments such like a snare drums, bass guitars and pianos are shown with a pretty good sense of presence, while electro and acoustic guitars are nicely bright without to sound harsh or unnatural.
The upper treble range of the 7HZ Timeless AE sounds in general fairly natural and detailed. It has an audible peak around the 8 kHz that creates a pretty enjoyable sense of sparkle while listen to percussions. Violins have an adequate grade of attack, while soprano voices such like Serta Erener are reproduced with an efficient level of airiness and brightness.
Soundstage & Imaging:
The 7HZ Timeless AE has a pretty airy soundstage atmosphere that offers a slightly bit more headroom compared to the Original Timeless. The separation and placement of instruments and vocals across the stage is fairly realistic. The soundstage of the Timeless AE shows an adequate level of wideness, while the depth and height is on a moderate level.
Comparison:
7HZ Timeless AE Edition versus Original 7HZ Timeless:
The Timeless AE shows an audible boost on both end especially in the lows and upper treble region. The subbass region of the Timeless AE has more depth and rumble that was immediately audible when I have listen to songs like Lorde’s “Royals” and Rok Nardin’s “Berserks” that will satisfy does who do prefer some additional rumble and extension in this area. The midbass region is a slightly fuller and more impactful when I do listen to the Timeless AE, while it still quite clean and detailed in this area.
The lower midrange of both In-Ear Monitors sounds pretty close in terms of body and depth, while the Original Timeless has a touch better grade of clarity in this area, when I listen to male voices or instruments such like a viola or acoustic guitar. The upper midrange is where the presentation slightly changes. The Timeless AE offers a bit more brightness, energy and resolution that was fairly audible while listen to female voices such like Adel and Sertap Erener, or to instruments such like flutes, violins or pianos, which is a welcome improvement.
The lower treble region of the Original Timeless shows slightly less presence and extension. The Timeless AE offers a bit more micro detail and definition while listen to strings and percussion. The upper treble region of the Timeless AE especially around the 8 kHz region sounds a tad more energetic compared to those of the Original Timeless. The general presentation of the Timeless AE in this area sounds slightly more airy and detailed.
Both the Timeless AE and the Original Timeless are pretty equal in terms of soundstage performance. The Timeless AE has the slightly edge when it comes to the wideness and airiness of the stage, while the sense of depth and height are quite equal on both IEM’s.
Conclusion:
The Timeless AE Edition is another great sounding Planar IEM of the company that continues the legacy of the Original Timeless with some slightly but audible improvements especially in the lows and the highs. When you are a fan of the Original Timeless but did wish some extra depth, impact and rumble in the lows and some additional airiness and sparkle in the highs, the Timeless AE edition with its new modular headphone plug design and 2-Pin interface will be a good choice. However, recommend the new AE Edition more to those who didn’t already owned the previous model and are in search for a new Planar IEM.
Pros & Cons:
- + Excellent Bass Response (Speed, Depth & Authority)
- + Transparent & Detailed Midrange Presentation
- + Energetic yet pretty controlled Treble Tuning with good level of Clarity and Definition
- + New Cable with Modular Headphone Plug Design & 2-Pin Connectors
- + Comes with a rich set of accessories (Various Ear Tips, Fancy Storage Case)
- – The depth and height the stage could be better
- – Passive Isolation is on an average level
- – Pricier than the Original Timeless
Thank you for the Read!
