Whizzer HE03D IEM Review

Whizzer HE03D IEM Review
Introduction:
Whizzer is a Chinese brand that was founded in 2016 with the focus to design and create attractive portable audio products like In-Ear Monitors (Haydn A15 Pro, HE01, HE03), True Wireless Bluetooth Earphones (Whizzer TP1 & B7) Professional Cable Accessories.
The Whizzer HE03D that I will review for you utilizes the companies 5th Generation Dynamic Driver with a 12mm Diameter DLC (Diamond like Carbon) Diaphragm. The HE03D comes also with some remarkable features such like a patented acoustic cavity structure, Multi Damping Balance System (M.D.B.S.), a Semi-Open rear chamber design and CNC Processed Glass Panel Faceplate.
Disclaimer:I would like to thank Whizzer for providing me the HE03D IEM sample for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Whizzer beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The debut price for the Whizzer HE03D is 149,90 US$. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package and Accessories:
The company Whizzer is known with its attention to the smallest design element, and the packaging of their products is no exception. The HE03D In-Ear Monitor comes inside a premium looking box that was wrapped with a black cardboard sleeve that sports some product related brandings & logos on the top.
The box of the HE03D includes the following items;
- 1 pair x Whizzer HE03DIn-Ear Monitors
- 1 x Detachable Cable with 0.78mm 2-Pin Connector
- 3 set x Silicone Soundstage Ear Tips
- 3 set x Silicone Reference Ear Tips
- 3 set x Silicone Vocal Ear Tips
- 1 piece x Cleaning Tool
- 1 piece x Protective Faux Leather Case
- 1 piece x Print Material
Design & Build Quality:
Whizzer cooperates with J.IDEA+ Studio for the design of their products that have created many impressive looking items, from the monitors to the accessories. The same Studio also designed the HE03D and the result is an amazing looking In-Ear Monitor with a beautiful faceplate design.
The HE03D features a 5axis CNC machined metal shell with a black finish that utilizes a Whizzer’s 5th Gen 12mm Diameter DLC Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and a pretty sophisticated acoustic cavity structure that is again patented by Whizzer.
The faceplate is one of the main attractions of the HE03D, which looks gorgeous with its reflective star pattern in gold color with a deep black background. On the top of the faceplate is a precisely CNC machined Glass Panel with a highly polished glossy surface that fits perfectly.
At the inner surface of the monitor shell is the slightly angled sound nozzle and a vent for the 5th Generation 12mm diameter DLC (Diamond like Carbon) Diaphragm Dynamic Driver unit.
On the top of each nozzle is a fine woven metal mesh installed to prevent the insertion of unwanted particles such like dust or earwax.
Here are also Left (Blue) and Right (Red) color indicators that are located near the 2-Pin female connector.
Near the 2-Pin female connector is second small vent for the 12mm diameter DLC Diaphragm Dynamic Driver.
At the bottom of each monitor is a semi-open rear chamber that is part of Whizzer’s patented Multiple Damping Balance System (M.D.B.S.) design, which acts like a Helmholtz Resonator.
The Whizzer HE03D comes with a detachable cable that has 0.78mm diameter 2-Pin male connectors and a 3.5mm Single Ended Headphone Jack.
The connectors of the cable do have a plastic housing, while the Right male connector sports a Red color indicator.
The cable is made of 6N purity Silver Plated OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) Single Crystal Copper wire material. This cable has a very soft and flexible plastic insulation in brown color, which shows a low amount of microphonic effect.
This cable has a stylish metal chin slider in copper color and a metal y-splitter in black color that sports the HE03D branding on its surface.
The 3.5mm Single Ended headphone plug has a strait profiled headphone housing in black color with a circle in copper color, which sports the Whizzer branding on the top.
The build of both the monitors and of the cable is of very high quality, and does not shows any imperfections such like burrs or gaps.
Fit and Isolation:
The Whizzer HE03D has a pretty ergonomic monitor shape that doesn’t hurt my ear average sized ear concha’s even after longer listening periods.
When it comes to the passive noise isolation of this HE03D, I can say that it is on an average level that is quite enough for the use it in some noise environments such as a metro, bus or train.
Drivability:
The Whizzer HE03D is a pretty easy to drive In-Ear Monitor thanks to its impedance of 35ohm and a sensitivity of about 112db, which makes it to an ideal earphone for the use with relative sources such like Smartphone’s, Tablet’s or Digital Audio Player (DAP) with a weak amplification.
Technical Specifications:
- Driver Type : 5th GEN 12mm Diameter Density DLC Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
- Impedance : 35Ω
- Freq. range : 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Sensitivity : 112dB @ 1kHz
- Distortion : %1 @ 101dB (20uap)
- Max Power : 10mW
- Connector : 0.78mm 2-Pin
- Cable Specs : 6N Purity OCC Wire Cable
- Cable length : 120cm
Equipment’s used for this review:
IEM’s : Whizzer HE03D, TFZ King II, Ranko Acoustics RIE-880
DAP&DAC’s : HiBy RS6, iBasso DX160, Lotoo PAW S1
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)
- 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.B. King – Riding With The King (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Really Slow Motion – Deadwood (Deezer HiFi)
- Jo Blankenburg – Meraki (Spotify)
- Lorde – Royal (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (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)s
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The Whizzer HE03D shows a pretty natural tonality and the general frequency response is fairly balanced from the top to the bottom. The lower frequency region is pretty controlled and moderately emphasized, the midrange on the other hand sounds quite transparent and airy, while the treble range is fairly smooth and detailed for an In-Ear Monitor at this price level.
This review has been written after a burn-in period of approx 120 Hours. I have used the Stock Reference Silicone ear tips that are included to the package and together with its stock 6N purity Silver Plated OCC cable.
Bass:
The lower frequency region of the HE03D has a slightly warmer than neutral tonality and is in general pretty controlled in its presentation.
The Whizzer HE03D has a moderately deep subbass presentation that shows an average sense of intensity and extension. It is not very highlighted but the depth is on an efficient level that is pretty enough for rock, pop and classical music, while it is missing some rumble and intensity for bass heavy electronic genres such like Dubstep, Glitch Hop, etc.
The midbass region of the Whizzer HE03D stands out with is great sense of tightness and overall clarity, and doesn’t shows any unwanted negative conditions such as a midbass hump, muddiness or mixings. It shows an adequate level of impact that should be sufficient in terms of intensity and quantity. The midbass of the HE03D will satisfy most listeners with exception of bass-heads.
Midrange:
The midrange of the HE03D offers a very good level of transparency/clarity and airiness, which shows of how efficient the semi-open rear chamber design with Whizzer’s patented Multiple Damping Balance System (M.D.B.S.) works.
The lower midrange of the HE03D shows a good level of body and depth, while the most remarkable character of this area is how clear and detailed it is when I do listen to male vocals or to instruments such like strings (violas, acoustic guitars) or brass instruments (trumpets).
The Whizzer HE03D offers a decent performance when it comes to female vocals that do sounds in general pretty detailed and transparent. Female vocals do sounds slightly more detailed and rich compared to male voices due to the upper midrange character, which is a bit more highlighted compared to the lower midrange area that is missing a tad of extra depth and body.
The general midrange presentation of the Whizzer HE03D is in general pretty detailed, quite airy and crisp thanks to the well adjusted 5th GEN 12mm Diameter Density DLC Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and acoustic design elements such as the patented Multiple Damping Balance System.
Upper Midrange & Treble:
The upper midrange tuning of the Whizzer HE03D adds the general presentation an impressive sense of clarity and resolution, while the extension of this area is on an adequate level. The transitions from the upper midrange towards the treble area are in general fairly controlled, without to be sound overly harsh or ear piercing, especially after a burin-in of 50 hours.
The treble range of the HE03D offers a pretty successful performance in terms of extension. It is also fairly detailed and gives the overall presentation a good sense of clarity and airiness, especially while listening to genres like jazz and classical music. The treble range needs some extra burn-in (100 hours) to slightly more smooth out so that it gains more control/authority, same as the upper midrange area.
The treble range of the Whizzer HE03D sounds in general detailed, controlled and offers a efficient level of extension, when I do listen to hi-hats, snare drums or pianos.
Soundstage & Imaging:
The Whizzer HE03D offers a decent soundstage atmosphere thanks to its semi open-back design, which creates ideal conditions for a precise separation and placement of instruments and vocals. The soundstage of the HE03D sounds in general pretty airy and wide, while the depth of the stage is on a moderate level.
Comparison:
Whizzer HE03D versus TFZ King II:
The subbass of the TFZ King II is slightly more pronounced than those of the Whizzer HE03D. The HE03D has the upper hand in terms of subbass control and decay, while the King II shows a bit more rumble that is audible in bass heavy tracks.
The midbass of the Whizzer HE03D shows more quantity and intensity compared to the TFZ King II, which shows a more linear response in this frequency region and has the upper hand in terms of speed, tightness and control especially in complex passages.
The midrange of the TFZ King II has a warmer tonality and is also fuller in its presentation, while the Whizzer HE03D is superior in terms of clarity and airiness and detail retrieval in this area. The King II has the upper hand in terms lower midrange depth and male vocals, while the HE03D offers a better performance when it comes to female vocals and instruments like flutes, pianos and cellos in this area. The upper midrange of the Whizzer HE03D is more highlighted and shows a better level of extension.
The treble of both IEM’s is well pronounced while the Whizzer HE03D is a bit brighter and detailed in this area. The lower treble range of the HE03D shows a better sense of clarity and definition. The upper treble region of the TFZ King II is slightly more controlled, while the Whizzer HE03D offers a better grade of airiness, sparkle and extension.
The Whizzer HE03D is definitely superior when it comes to the soundstage performance that shows a much better sense of headroom and airiness, followed by a better level of wideness and depth.
Conclusion:
The Whizzer HE03 is a fantastic looking Universal IEM that offers a pretty balanced, yet detailed and mature sound tuning with great sense of transparency and airiness, which shows of how efficient the semi-open rear chamber design with Whizzer’s patented Multiple Damping Balance System (M.D.B.S.) works. Moreover, it comes with a very rich set of premium quality accessories, which are placed in to an eye-catching box that includes various ear tips, a beautiful leather case and many more. All those features do make the HE03D to a very attractive IEM choice in its price category.
Pros & Cons:
- + Fantastic looking Monitor Shell with attention to the smallest design element
- + Pretty Balanced & Mature Overall Sound Signature
- + Airy and Spacious Soundstage Atmosphere
- + Clarity and Detail Retrieval for its Price
- + Lots of Premium Accessories (Leather Case, Various Silicone Ear Tips, etc.)
- – Needs Some Burn-In to show its True Potential (especially the upper midrange & treble)
- – Not ideal for bass-heavy genres (like Dubstep, Glitch Hop, Bass Line, etc.)
- – Average Bass Speed
Better or worse than the HE03AL???
Neither is worse, however the HE03AL is has the edge when it comes to dynamism, resolution and overall technical performance, while the difference is not very high. Cheers!