Yu9 Que VS ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII

Youtube Video Summary

The YU9 Que sports a premium, durable resin shell in pure black with a metallic-feeling faceplate and a comfortable design featuring an anti-tragus catch. While the build itself feels handsome and unique, the included cable is criticized as wimpy and unpleasant, with a strong suggestion to upgrade it. Accessories are deemed solid, including a nice selection of tips and a particularly praised case with a soft, luxurious interior.

Sonically, the YU9 Que earns immense praise for its exceptional tuning, described as clean, resolute, and non-fatiguing. It delivers strong, textured bass that avoids being overwhelming, coupled with extremely well-done upper mids. While not class-leading in technicalities like micro-detail or instrument separation, its tonal balance is considered sophisticated and reminiscent of far more expensive sets like the Annihilator, even surpassing the Monarch MKII in tuning preference. It's highlighted as a fantastic all-rounder with a smooth, agreeable signature suitable for long listening sessions.

Despite its modest single dynamic driver + 3BA configuration and $409 price point, the YU9 Que is declared a very special and unique IEM, worthy of the hype it received. The review concludes it's a price leader and a highly competent package from a small brand, offering outstanding value and a beautiful, well-executed design that makes it an easy recommendation for those seeking a smooth, non-fatiguing sound.

Youtube Video Summary

At ~$400, YU9 Audio Que sets a new bar for the bracket: a 1DD+3BA hybrid with a modest bass shelf, slightly forward mids, and linear treble extension that sounds more speaker-like than typical IEMs. The presentation is exceptionally polished and quiet-backgrounded, yielding crisp separation, convincing imaging, and staging in depth, width, and height that resembles far pricier gear.

The low end brings tactile mid-bass impact with deep, controlled sub-bass, pairing naturally with that extended, peak-free top end; the result is a true playlist killer across EDM, rock, vocal, and classical. Nitpicks exist: mids can sit a touch forward depending on track and the set rewards a slightly higher volume and a secure, deeper fit, while V-shape fans may find it too boring.

Compared with favorites like Dusk, Cadenza 4, and Volume S, Que keeps their strengths but fixes common complaints by delivering fuller bass weight, cleaner openness, and more realistic attack and dynamics. It does not need giant-killer claims to stand out; at this price it is simply class-leading.

Youtube Video Summary

Build & accessories: a hybrid 1DD + 3BA set priced around $399 with a spacious zipper case, multiple silicone tips, pouches, cleaning cloth, and shirt clip. The faceplate’s wavy, stone-like texture looks premium, and the shells use a 2-pin connector. The downside is the stock cable: it’s springy, only in 4.4 mm, and feels below the tier. Fit is serviceable but not ideal—the shell isn’t the most ergonomic, the nozzle lacks a lip, and seating a deeper fit can take a moment; once set, stability is good and tips stayed secure in use.

Sound: this isn’t a “new-meta” curve; it’s a unique, lively tuning. Bass is punchy, dynamic, and highly textured—more physical in practice than the graph suggests, with excellent impact and kick-drum authority. An early rise after 1 kHz pushes vocals front and center for an intimate, engaging presentation without tipping into shout. Treble is refined, sparkly, and well-extended: it is a bright set but avoids harshness, peakiness, sibilance, and fatigue, delivering crisp cymbals and defined transients even for rock and metal at any volume. Technicalities are class-leading under $500 with standout detail retrieval and separation; the one wish is a larger soundstage.

Comparisons & verdict: the Elysian Apostle still wins on bass texture/impact, treble refinement, and overall resolution, but the Yu9 Que offers a convincing “Apostle flavor” at a lower price. Versus Elysian Pilgrim, the Que is fuller and bassier, while Pilgrim’s treble is tamer; versus Volume S, the Que is cleaner, brighter, more detailed as the Volume S trends warmer with more neutral treble; against Dusk DSP, Dusk sounds more natural/balanced but the Que feels more fun and technical. Recommended for those who crave clarity, sparkle, and engagement without fatigue; less ideal if treble-sensitive or preferring a warm, relaxed tonality, and worth demoing for comfort. A top contender and serious gatekeeper around $400—final rating: 4.5/5 with a strong recommendation.

Youtube Video Summary

Yu9 Que arrives with a surprisingly premium unboxing: a crush-resistant carrying case with plush padding, an IEM pouch, microfiber cloth, cable clip, and two ear-tip sets (standard silicone and more premium liquid silicone). A quirky 3D-printed nameplate with serial number and a faceplate etched in a topographic-map motif give it character. The shell is on the larger, wider side—comfortable for many, but small ears should test fit first. The stock cable is just okay (some memory, no chin slider), though it’s offered in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm terminations.

Tonally, this is a neutral-reference set with a tasteful bass lift—clean impact without throwing off balance. Sub-bass has satisfying thump and texture, though bass-heads coming from sets like Kiwi Ears Punch may find it polite. The mids sit even and accurate—no “vocal magic,” yet clearly above average. Treble stretches well into the air with a touch of brightness that adds crispness and a slightly clinical edge, staying shy of fatiguing. Technical chops are the draw: a decently wide soundstage (roughly 3–4/5 by comparison), standout 3D imaging, and strong resolution/separation make it excellent for gaming—worthy of a two-controller nod—though ultimate detail still trails pricier kilobuck options.

Versus peers: Moondrop Dusk (DSP) is warmer with bass that hits a bit harder, while Yu9 Que is the more neutral, reference-leaning take. Elysian Pilgrim offers smoother treble, but Yu9 Que counters with better bass grip, stage, and imaging. AFUL Performer 7 tilts mild V; choose it for extra mid-bass and forward treble, otherwise Yu9 Que wins on technicality. Mega 5 EST chases the meta target yet stumbles in bass/treble; NiceHCK Rockies refines that approach and might be the more exciting alternative if spending slightly more. Bottom line: the hype is justified—a superb all-rounder around $400 with only the cable begging for an upgrade. It’s a clear pick for neutral/reference fans, though those seeking more “fun” might look elsewhere; call it a pragmatic, two-star recommendation amid a crowded market and likely pre-order waits.

Youtube Video Summary

YU9 Que presents a balanced, almost neutral tuning with a tasteful touch of mid-bass for warmth and punch. Treble is clean and controlled—more clarity than “sizzle”—so detail comes through without harshness, while mids keep vocals natural rather than forward or thin. Technical performance sits in the “solid for the price” camp: separation and imaging are tidy, but not the kind of hyper-etched sparkle that chases wow factor.

In practice, it shines with slower pop, R&B, acoustic and vocal-centric tracks where its coherence and smoothness pay off; those seeking big sub-bass drama or ultra-aerated treble fireworks may find it a touch polite. Versus brighter, more contrasty sets, the Que trades spectacle for musicality and long-session comfort, making value hinge on whether a refined, low-fatigue signature is preferred over maximum excitement at the price point.

Youtube Video Summary

Yu9’s Que lands as a “safer Annihilator”: a warmer, scaled-back take that pushes ample sub-bass while keeping the rest tastefully controlled. The low end feels liquidy and bouncy, underpinning an aggressive 1–3 kHz rise with a gentle 3–5 kHz taper, so vocals sit upfront and crisp yet remain remarkably smooth thanks to the extra low-end warmth. Treble is slightly scooped around 5–6 kHz and then climbs in small, well-placed peaks out to ~15–18 kHz, yielding excellent extension that feels on par with sets like Moondrop Variations in this range.

What makes it pop is the value proposition: at $400, the overall resolution, tonal balance, and staging read far pricier—more like the $700–800 bracket. With its engaging sub-bass lift, lucid mids, and airy yet controlled top end, Que comes off as a polished, crowd-friendly tuning that still excites detail chasers. If momentum holds, this looks like the next big thing around the $400 mark.

Youtube Video Summary

Youtube Video Summary

Thieaudio Hype 4 MKII comes as part of the renewed Hype lineup and immediately feels like a big upgrade in presentation. The flip open box separates the earphones and case from the ear tips and paperwork, while the broken mother of pearl style faceplates and smoothly machined aluminum shells look luxurious and sit in the ears with a very comfortable, moderate size that does not create pressure build up. The new textured matte case, modular 3.5 and 4.4 terminations on the copper and silver hybrid cable, and the dedicated ear tip box with both proprietary silicone tips and memory foam sets make the whole package feel thoughtful and premium, showing that the brand is really listening to user feedback.

In terms of tuning, the Hype 4 MKII delivers a bass response that extends deep, giving bass guitars and kick drums a strong, satisfying punch while staying cleanly separated from the rest of the mix thanks to a controlled bass shelf and a sharp cut around the midbass. The lower mids have a subtle lush bump that adds body to cellos and warmth to vocals without muddying the overall transparency, leading into a midrange where vocals sound airy yet focused and instruments like guitars carry more texture, cleaner lines and a wider sense of space than the first generation. Upper mids follow a classic peak that is balanced with the bass level so they do not feel shouty, and the treble is described as very airy, bright and clear with excellent extension and resolution, giving more soundstage, ambience and atmosphere, though with a slightly more noticeable sibilance region compared to the original that still stays within an acceptable range without harshness.

Technical performance on the Hype 4 MKII is strong, with very good resolution, separation and sensitivity that make it easy to drive and reveal fine details in cymbals, triangles and electronic effects, while the stage feels more open and expanded than before. Compared to the original Hype 4, the MKII keeps a warm and punchy character but cleans up the separation between bass and mids, pulls the extremely forward vocals slightly back into a more natural blend with instruments, and upgrades treble detail so that the older tuning can sound flatter and a bit rough by comparison. Against Moondrop Blessing 3, it offers clearly higher resolution and a more dynamic, lively presentation with less bass lean, and overall comes across as a more coherent evolution of the Hype 4 that combines warm punchy bass, enhanced upper mids and treble, richer ambience and better soundstage to earn a solid 8.5 out of 10 recommendation around its 399 USD price.