Hidizs MS2 Pro Review

 

Introduction:

Founded in 2009, Hidizs is a respected Chinese audio brand renowned for its portable audiophile products, including Digital Audio Players, DACs, amplifiers, and In-Ear Monitors. Hidizs continues to carve a niche in the affordable audio space with standout products like the MP145 and MK12 Turris. Their latest, the Hidizs MS2 Pro, is a hybrid IEM featuring a 10.2mm dual magnetic circuit dynamic driver paired with a custom HIDIZS Silvercore BA driver. Drawing inspiration from the sleek, resilient form of a rhinoceros horn, the MS2 Pro blends durability, thoughtful ergonomics, and a vibrant sound profile at a budget-friendly price point.

This review explores its design, build, and sonic performance in depth, with a focus on its unique character and value.

 

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank Hidizs for providing the MS2 Pro as review sample for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Hidizs beyond this review and these words reflect my true, unaltered, opinions about the product.

 

Price & Availability:

Priced at approximately $99 USD, with an introductory offer of $69 USD, the MS2 Pro delivers strong value in the mid-range IEM market. More information can be found under the link below;

• Hidizs MS2 Pro In-Ear Monitor

  

Package & Accessories:

The Hidizs MS2 Pro comes in a modest-sized box that features a rendering of the IEMs and product branding on the lid, with detailed specifications on the back. The contents are presented in layered foam cutouts.

The box comes with the following contents;

• 1 x Hidizs MS5 In-Ear Monitor
• 1 x 2-strand Silver-Plated OFC Cable with 3.5mm SE or 4.4mm Balanced Plug
• 6 x pairs of silicone ear tips
• 3 x pairs of Sound Tuning Filters
• 1 x PU Leather Pouch
• 1 x Print Material (User Manual & Warranty Card)

 

Design & Build Quality:

The MS2 Pro’s design draws inspiration from the rhinoceros horn, blending strength and elegance in a way that feels both bold and refined. Crafted from ZA12 zinc alloy, the shells are five times stronger than aluminum and engineered for 98% resonance suppression, ensuring minimal distortion.

Each shell weighs around 13g, giving a substantial yet balanced feel. The mirror-polished finish, available in Sunset Orange, Royal Blue, or Midnight Black, catches the light beautifully but is prone to fingerprints, requiring occasional wiping to maintain its luster.

The faceplate features a leather-textured panel with a subtle horn outline, adding a tactile and visual sophistication that sets it apart from typical budget IEMs. The design avoids clutter, with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic.

On the top edge, the 0.78mm 2-pin connectors are integrated, with clear L/R markings and a small gold-colored vent for pressure regulation.

The inner side of the shell is ergonomically curved, with smooth, rounded edges that hug the ear naturally. The nozzles, which are topped with a crown and protected by a metal mesh filter, are angled for a secure fit and easy tip swapping.

The tuning nozzles, red for balanced, white for treble-focused, and black for bass-enhanced, are a standout feature. Each nozzle is color-coded with a distinct ring and threads securely into place, allowing quick swaps without tools. A small tactile notch on the shell aids in alignment during nozzle changes, enhancing user-friendliness.

The included cable is a high-purity, silver-plated oxygen-free copper (OFC) braid, measuring 1.2m in length. Its two-strand twist design is lightweight and flexible, reducing microphonics during movement. The cable features translucent, trapezoidal 2-pin connectors that lock firmly into the IEMs, ensuring a reliable connection. The metal plug housing, available in 3.5mm single-ended or 4.4mm balanced, feels sturdy, with a polished finish that complements the IEMs’ aesthetic.

Flexible ear guides provide a snug over-ear fit, though the stock’s thin profile can tangle slightly if not stored carefully. A metal Y-splitter and chin slider add durability and adjustability, making the cable both functional and stylish. While not as thick as premium aftermarket cables, it performs admirably for the price, offering low resistance and clean signal transmission.

Overall, the MS2 Pro’s build exudes quality, with thoughtful details like the engraved model name, robust alloy construction, and customizable nozzles making it a standout in the under-$100 category.

 

Fit & Isolation:

Despite the zinc alloy’s weight, the MS2 Pro remains comfortable for extended wear. The biomimetic, horn-inspired shape conforms to the ear’s contours, preventing slippage or discomfort. The smooth inner surfaces and angled nozzles ensure a pressure-free fit, though users with smaller ears may need to experiment with tip sizes. The stock silicone tips, black for balanced sound and white for brighter highs, provide a reliable seal, with the medium size suiting most ears.

Isolation is impressive, effectively muting ambient noise like street sounds or public transit hum, thanks to the sealed design and small vent for pressure balance. While not ideal for vigorous activities due to its weight, the MS2 Pro excels for casual or stationary listening.

 

Paring & Drivability:

With a low impedance of 17Ω and high sensitivity of 111dB, the MS2 Pro is easy to drive, performing well with smartphones, laptops, or budget dongle DACs. Pairing it with higher-end sources like the Hidizs AP80 Pro MAX or S9 Pro Plus enhances bass control, midrange warmth, and treble clarity, unlocking its full potential.

Technical Specifications:

• Driver Configuration: 10.2mm Dual Magnetic Circuit Dynamic Driver + HIDIZS Silvercore BA Driver
• Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz
• Sensitivity: 111dB
• Impedance: 17Ω
• Cable Material: 2-strand Silver-Plated OFC
• Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-Pin
• Termination Plugs: 3.5mm Single-Ended, 4.4mm Balanced
• Cable Length: 1.2m

Equipment’s used for this review: 

• IEM’s              : Hidizs MS2 Pro, Pula Audio Unicrom
• DAP/DAC      : Hidizs S9Pro Plus, Hidizs AP80 Pro MAX

  

Driver Technology:

The Hidizs MS2 Pro utilizes a hybrid driver system, featuring a 10.2mm dual magnetic circuit dynamic driver and a custom HIDIZS Silvercore balanced armature (BA) driver.

The dynamic driver, which is equipped with neodymium magnets and a dual magnetic design, is engineered to produce strong bass and a wide soundstage. This design aims to enhance magnetic flux and minimize distortion within its 20Hz–40kHz frequency response range. Its lightweight diaphragm is designed for fast transient response.

Complementing this, the Silvercore BA driver is intended to handle high-frequency reproduction, delivering detailed and clear treble. The combination of these two driver types is designed to achieve a coherent sound profile by blending the dynamic driver’s low and mid-frequency output with the BA driver’s high-frequency performance, while minimizing potential phase inconsistencies. The low mass of the BA driver allows for a quick response, which is beneficial for reproducing sharp details in cymbals and vocals.

With a sensitivity of 111dB and an impedance of 17Ω, the MS2 Pro is considered an efficient device that can be driven effectively by a variety of audio sources.

 

Albums & Tracks Used for this Review:

Vocal Jazz / Smooth Jazz

• Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
• 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)
• Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)

Soul / R&B

• Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Prayer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Adele – My Little Love (Apple Lossless)
• George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)

Pop / Rock Classics

• Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Elton John – Rocket Man (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Apple Lossless)

Electronic / Experimental

• Daft Punk – Instant Crush (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Apple Lossless)
• Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Apple Lossless)
• Toutant – Rebirth (Apple Lossless)

Alternative / Indie / Art Rock

• Radiohead – Live in Berlin “Album” (Apple Lossless)
• Radiohead – Pyramid Song (Apple Lossless)
• Muse – Hysteria (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – Nobody Weird Like Me (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Apple Lossless)
• Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Bear McCreary – Valkyries (Apple Lossless)

Classical / Orchestral

• Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Chopin – Nocturne No. 20 in C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy (Apple Lossless)
• Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5 (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Vivaldi – Le Quattro Stagioni “The Four Seasons” (Apple Lossless)
• Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)

Jazz / Instrumental

• Miles Davis – So What (Apple Lossless)

World / Traditional

• Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)

Metal / Progressive Rock

• Metallica – Dyers Eve (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Apple Lossless)
• Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove It) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Rush – Tom Sawyer (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Slayer – Angel of Death (Apple Lossless)
• Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Apple Lossless)

 

 

The Sound:

The MS2 Pro delivers a consistent tonality across frequencies, leaning toward a V-shaped signature with a brighter than neutral character. After a 50-hour burn-in period using the red-ring nozzle, white silicone ear tips, and stock cable, the MS2 Pro offers a firm and fast sound profile that maintains a balanced presentation with smooth transitions between frequency ranges. The overall tonality is smooth, with no obvious artificial coloration, ensuring a natural and unexaggerated listening experience.

Impact of Interchangeable Nozzles:

The MS2 Pro’s swappable nozzles allow for subtle adjustments to the sound signature, offering a degree of customization to suit different preferences.

The red nozzle provides a balanced sound with warmth, ideal for emotional and engaging listening. The white nozzle emphasizes clarity and highs, enhancing detail retrieval for analytical sessions. The black nozzle boosts bass, creating a fuller, atmospheric profile for relaxed immersion. These options cater to various preferences while keeping the inherent V-shaped character.

Bass / Midrange / Treble / Soundstage & Imaging:

Please note that the sound impressions below are based primarily on the Gold filter, using the stock cable and balanced silicone ear tips, paired with high-quality sources to maximize performance.

The bass is produced with a moderate level quantity, showing a slightly thick texture that provides a stable low-frequency foundation. It demonstrates good extension into the sub-bass region, allowing deep, rumbling low-end frequencies with noticeable presence. The speed of bass note decay is moderate, which allows intricate bass lines to be discernible, though the ultimate sense of agility and control in the midbass is a bit tempered by the described thickness. A subtle elevation in the mid-bass frequencies can introduce a slight warmth to the lower registers of the midrange, yet the overall bass remains generally well-defined and balanced.

The midrange frequencies are characterized by a rich and warm tonality, possessing a good sense of fullness that ensures both instrumental and vocal elements are clearly positioned within the sonic mix. Female vocals are reproduced with a moderate level thickness and a slightly forward placement in the presentation, conveying good transparency and clarity. The perceived scale or size of vocal reproduction sounds a bit reduced, while male vocals also benefit from the warm and full character of the lower midrange, though they do have a slight mid-bass elevation that adds a touch of extra body to these vocal performances. The overall midrange maintains a natural and lifelike quality.

The treble range displays a moderate level of brightness, contributing a sense of liveliness and enhancing the retrieval of fine details within the audio signal. The overall treble presentation remains smooth, with only minor peaks that generally avoid causing listening fatigue or harshness, preventing high frequencies from becoming overly strident. Extension into the ultra-treble frequencies is present, although a slight roll-off at the extreme upper limits softens the very highest harmonics. Instruments occupying this frequency range are rendered with good detail and clarity. Sibilance is generally well-controlled and not a prominent issue.

The soundstage offers a balanced spatial presentation, avoiding both an overly expansive and a constricted feel. A sense of openness and airiness is present, providing both width and a degree of depth to the sonic image. While the precise delineation of instrument placement within this space is not a primary characteristic, the separation between individual sonic elements, particularly vocals and instruments, is generally well-maintained, which allows various elements to be reasonably distinguished. The level of detail resolution is notable, and dynamic contrasts are conveyed with good impact, while the speed of transient response is average. The layering of instruments in densely orchestrated passages might exhibit some limitations in fully separating complex arrangements.

 

Comparison:

Hidizs MS2 Pro ($69-$99) vs. PULA Unicrom ($120)

The PULA Unicrom, a 1DD + 1BA hybrid IEM priced around $120 USD, targets audiophiles with a neutral-leaning sound signature, prioritizing clarity, a wide soundstage, and precise detail retrieval. To ensure a fair comparison, I tested both the Hidizs MS2 Pro and the PULA Unicrom using the same source, the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, focusing solely on their sound quality to highlight their distinct sonic characteristics.

Sound Quality: The Hidizs MS2 Pro, equipped with its red nozzle, delivers a V-shaped sound signature with a brighter tilt, emphasizing punchy bass and lively treble while preserving warm, emotive mids. The bass response is robust, offering strong sub-bass extension that delivers a visceral impact, ideal for genres requiring energy and drive, such as electronic or pop. The mid-bass carries a slight elevation, adding warmth to the lower midrange, which enhances the fullness of vocals but can occasionally soften detail in complex arrangements, leading to a touch of congestion in intricate passages. The midrange is rich and engaging, with vocals presented forward and clear, imbued with a natural, lifelike quality. Female vocals have a moderate thickness, while male vocals gain body from the subtle mid-bass warmth, ensuring an intimate and emotional delivery. The treble is crisp and detailed, providing a lively sparkle without harshness, though a subtle roll-off in the upper treble slightly limits airiness, particularly in tracks with extended high-frequency content. The soundstage is open, with decent width and depth, offering a balanced spatial presentation. However, layering in dense compositions can feel constrained, with average transient speed and moderate instrument separation, making it less adept at resolving highly complex tracks.

In contrast, the PULA Unicrom offers a neutral-leaning sound signature focused on transparency and precision, catering to listeners who prioritize clarity over coloration. Its bass is tight and controlled, emphasizing definition over quantity. The sub-bass is articulate, providing clear low-end detail but with less impact than the MS2 Pro, making it better suited for genres like jazz or classical that demand precision over power. The midrange is clean and forward, delivering vocals and instruments with exceptional clarity and minimal warmth, ensuring a natural, unembellished presentation. This transparency allows for precise rendering of subtle nuances, such as the texture of acoustic instruments, making it ideal for critical listening. The treble is more extended than the MS2 Pro, offering greater airiness and sparkle, which enhances the sense of space in tracks with high-frequency detail. However, this extension can occasionally introduce slight sharpness in brighter recordings, particularly when paired with neutral or analytical sources. The Unicrom’s soundstage is significantly wider and deeper, with superior instrument separation and layering, creating a more immersive and holographic experience, especially in complex compositions where individual elements remain distinct. However, its neutral tuning can feel less emotionally engaging for genres like rock or EDM, where the MS2 Pro’s vibrant, V-shaped character adds excitement and energy.

The MS2 Pro excels in delivering a fun, dynamic sound with its V-shaped profile, making it versatile for listeners who enjoy an energetic presentation across various genres. Its customizable nozzles allow subtle tweaks to enhance bass, mids, or treble, adding flexibility. The Unicrom, with its neutral tuning, prioritizes accuracy and detail, appealing to audiophiles seeking a reference-style sound for analytical listening, though it may lack the warmth and engagement of the MS2 Pro in more emotive genres.

 

Conclusion:

The Hidizs MS2 Pro is a remarkable achievement in the budget IEM market, offering a premium build, versatile tuning options, and a balanced, V-shaped sound signature for just $69 USD introductory price. The unique hybrid setup, combined with swappable nozzles and a modular cable, delivers a level of performance and customization rarely seen at this price. While it may not compete with higher-end IEMs in terms of soundstage depth or layering in complex tracks, the MS2 Pro excels as an all-around performer for audiophiles and casual listeners alike. Its elegant design, robust build, and comfortable fit further solidify its value, making it a standout choice in 2025’s competitive IEM landscape.

 

Pros & Cons:

• + Balanced, V-shaped sound signature with a smooth, natural tonality
• + Premium zinc alloy shell featuring a stylish, horn-inspired design
• + Swappable nozzles and termination plugs for customization
• + Comes with a comprehensive set of accessories
• + Exceptional value for its price point

• – Layering can feel limited in complex musical tracks
• – The all-metal shell is robust but somewhat heavier and the glossy finish is prone to fingerprints and scratches

 

Thank you for the Read!