Penon Serial VS Epz K9

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

IEMRanking.com Home Compare IEMs

Penon Serial and Epz K9 use 3DD and 1DD+8BA driver setups respectively. Penon Serial costs $300 while Epz K9 costs $299. Penon Serial is $1 more expensive. Epz K9 holds a decisive 2.1-point edge in reviewer scores (5.5 vs 7.5). Epz K9 has significantly better bass with a 2.4-point edge, Epz K9 has significantly better mids with a 1.7-point edge, Epz K9 has significantly better treble with a 2.1-point edge, Epz K9 has significantly better dynamics with a 3.6-point edge, Epz K9 has significantly better soundstage with a 1.4-point edge, Epz K9 has significantly better details with a 3.7-point edge and Epz K9 has significantly better imaging with a 3.8-point edge.

Insights

Metric Penon Serial Epz K9
Bass 6 8.4
Mids 5.3 7
Treble 4.7 6.8
Details 4 7.7
Soundstage 6 7.4
Imaging 4 7.8
Dynamics 4 7.6
Tonality 5.1 7.6
Technicalities 4.3 7.3

Penon Serial Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz
Fresh Reviews Jaytiss
Bad Guy Good Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

5.5

Mixed to Negative


Epz K9 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss Jays Audio IEMRanking AI

Average Reviewer Score:

7.5

Strongly Favorable


Reviews Comparison

Penon Serial reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 5.3 Reviewer Score
C- Tuning
C- Tech
Lacks in bass, low pinna gain, but overall not bad, just expensive.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C+ Treble: C- Dynamics: C- Soundstage: B

Epz K9 reviewed by Jaytiss

2025-09-21
Jaytiss 7.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
B Tech
A little bit too much lower trebble, but it's still a good balanced set.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: B Treble: B Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A-

Penon Serial (more reviews)

Penon Serial reviewed by Bad Guy Good Audio

Bad Guy Good Audio 7.1 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
C+ Tech
Pleasing tonality. great timbre, scales up, great sense of dynamics Caps look like Bill Cosby sweater.

Bad Guy Good Audio original ranking

Bad Guy Good Audio Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A-

Penon Serial reviewed by Fresh Reviews

Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Penon Serial reviewed by Nymz

Nymz 4 Reviewer Score
C- Tuning
C- Tech
Two units, both have audible channel imbalance. Stage width is average but lacks height and depth. Treble is on the darker side with some 5k energy. Mid bass is a bit too much but good slam. Shows incoherence signs.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: C+ Mids: C- Treble: D Details: C- Imaging: C-

Epz K9 (more reviews)

Epz K9 reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
All-rounder with slight v-shape tonality. EW300 upgrade. Natural and sweet vocals, nice mid-bass slam, treble is nicely extended, well-balanced with a mix of smoothness and contrast, and great packaging and design.

EPZ K9 lands as a sweet, balanced all-rounder with a tasteful, slightly V-shaped tilt. Bass is snappy and well-controlled, with a mid-bass fill that adds natural note weight to vocals and drums without muddying the mids. Treble extends cleanly with a hint of air, steering clear of both dullness and sharpness, while imaging is a touch sharper than entry peers. Think EM6L’s vibe but less shouty up top, a bit more resolving, and a clear upgrade path from sets like the Clean/EW300.

Against rivals, K9 takes a more vocal-centric approach: fuller mid-bass, smoother presence, and better slam/body on drums. Astral counters with stronger sub-bass texture, extra air, and a tamer upper-mid for high-energy genres; both trade blows on detail with K9 edging imaging. Versus Odyssey, K9 offers cleaner treble extension and forward vocals, while Odyssey is bassier, with deeper sub-bass texture and louder-volume scaling. Overall technicals sit around Pilgrim/Dusk level, which is solid for the price, especially with the nicer cable, case, and a black color option.

Usability is largely easygoing—tip-rolling is flexible and the stock clears keep things smooth—though the shell edge can feel uncomfortable over long sessions. Best at mid-volume listening (around 60–65 dB); push higher and upper mids/treble can get lively on K-pop/EDM, while R&B/indie scales sweetly up to ~75 dB. Compared with bass-tilted sets (Tea Pro/Hype 4/Estrella/Punch/Martello), K9 is cleaner, tighter, and more mid-range focused; versus neutral leaners (Pilgrim/Dusk/Canon Pro/“5+2”), it has a more complete upper-mid for vocals. Not a market-breaker in pure price/perf, but as a refined, musical package with balanced tonality and comfort-adjacent caveats, K9 is a very solid all-rounder.


Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Epz K9 reviewed by IEMRanking AI

2025-09-21
IEMRanking AI 7.6 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech

The EPZ K9 is a 9-driver hybrid (1DD+8BA) with a 3-way acoustic/electronic crossover, rated at 14 Ω and 108 dB sensitivity; it also ships with interchangeable 3.5 mm/4.4 mm plugs, making it easy to pair with portable sources. Retail pricing varies by region—seen around $299 at some retailers and into the low-$400s elsewhere—so value will depend on where it’s purchased.

Tonally, K9 presents a warm W-shaped balance with substantive mid-bass and a restrained but present upper-mid/treble rise, aiming for smoothness over bite. Frequency-response sets published by community sources also show insertion-depth sensitivity (deep vs shallow), which helps explain reports of “calmer” treble and broader perceived width with deeper seals.

Technical performance is competent for the segment: macro-dynamics and bass slam are a noted strength, while resolution and imaging sit a touch below the class leaders; stage is more wide than deep, but cohesive for a multi-BA hybrid. Multiple long-form impressions describe it as clean and open yet non-fatiguing, which aligns with a safe-tilt treble and fuller lower mids.


Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: A+ Soundstage: A Details: A Imaging: A

Penon Serial User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Epz K9 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Penon Serial Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

4.6

Gaming Grade

C

Epz K9 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.4

Gaming Grade

A-

Penon Serial Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Bass B
Good bass foundation with decent impact. Maintains acceptable control while providing satisfying thump in most tracks.
Mids C+
Decent midrange performance - balanced but unremarkable. Adequate clarity for most genres without notable flaws.
Treble C
Average treble performance - present but lacking refinement. Some graininess or splashiness affects clarity.
Dynamics C-
Average dynamics - passable but unexciting. Transients are rounded and micro-dynamics lack refinement.
Soundstage B
Good soundstage with proper width and depth. Instruments have clear positioning with reasonable front/back placement.
Details C-
Average resolution - reveals basic elements but misses subtleties. Satisfactory for casual listening but lacks refinement.
Imaging C-
Average imaging - reasonable localization but lacks specificity. Instruments have general positions but lack pinpoint accuracy.
Gaming C
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Epz K9 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass A+
Excellent bass response - powerful yet controlled. Deep extension with authoritative slam while maintaining clarity.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble B+
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics A
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details A
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Value-to-cost may not be optimal for gaming-focused users.

Penon Serial User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Epz K9 User Reviews

Example User Posted on ...
0.0

"This is an example review"

Pros
  • Example pro 1
  • Example pro 2
Cons
  • Example con 1
  • Example con 2
No User-Reviews Yet

Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.

You need to be signed in to write your own review

Find your next IEM:

IEM Finder Quiz

new
Use this quiz and answer a few questions to get your individual IEM recommendation list
(1/2) How much are you willing to spend on the IEM?
(2/2) Which sound characteristics are particularly important to you?
Buy

Footer