Warmer Harman 2019 with less shouty vocals. Bassy all-rounder with decent tech. Build and plate design is very pretty... but price is a bit high and not that competitive - wait for sale unless you really dig the look.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel - Jays Audio

It's fine, but is fine worth your purchase?

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel - Jaytiss

The Heartfield CU8 delivers a neutral sound that closely follows the Harman target curve, providing a balanced and accurate listening experience suitable for both critical monitoring and musical enjoyment. Its bass response is tight and textured, with a slight mid-bass bump that adds a touch of warmth without bleeding into the mids, while the treble remains smooth and free of sibilance.

Build quality is a standout, featuring a hand-finished brass chamber that feels premium but contributes to a heavier design, which might affect fit for some users during extended wear. The included cable is thin relative to the IEM's weight, though the deep recessed 2-pin connectors ensure a secure connection.

Overall, the CU8 excels with a natural timbre and cohesive presentation, making it a strong choice for those seeking an analytical yet engaging signature across genres, though its weight and sparse accessories are minor drawbacks. The PUR vibration control system effectively enhances dynamics, allowing its four balanced armatures to perform with the impact of more complex driver setups.

Buy Heartfield CU8 on Linsoul (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI

Bright-leaning with slight warmness - has an unique sparkly/lush, airy, and spacious sound. Great tech for the price, treble is not overly harsh or peaky (at mid volume), pretty smooth with the extra mid-bass balancing out the treble boost. Vocals are pushed back/not fully extended and not as prominent. Mid-volume set, doesn't scale well. Gets spicy with energetic genres past mid-volume. Great for instrumentals, acoustics, indie, classical, etc.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel - Jays Audio

A unique open back iem.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel - Jaytiss

The Kiwi Ears Septet delivers a neutral-bright sound signature characterized by clear vocals and a notably forward treble that enhances detail retrieval, particularly in female vocals and acoustic instruments. Its bass response is neutral and controlled, lacking the weight of closed-back designs but offering tight, fast decay. While this tuning excels with well-recorded tracks, it can become fatiguing with bright or poorly mastered material due to its upper-midrange and treble emphasis. The open-back design contributes to an airy presentation, though it reduces isolation significantly.

Technically, the Septet showcases a wide soundstage with precise imaging and strong microdynamics, allowing subtle instrumental textures to shine. Its seven-driver quadbrid configuration (dynamic, balanced armature, planar, and piezoelectric) integrates cohesively through a sophisticated 5-way crossover. However, the low sensitivity (95dB) demands powerful sources to avoid dynamic compression, and the open-back design makes it less suitable for noisy environments despite its comfortable fit.

Buy Kiwi Ears Septet on Linsoul (affiliate)

- IEMRanking AI