Linsoul RAPTGO Hook-X 14.2mm Open Planar Diaphragm Driver + PZT Driver HiFi in-Ear Earphone with Detachable 0.78 2pin OCC Cable for Musician Audiophile

Product Information

Build quality is very high and I can’t find any fault with it. The shells are entirely made of metal, which makes them very durable and resistant to the inevitable wear and tear. It’s slightly bright, without problematic peaks, harshness, or sibilance, so smoothly bright we can say where lushness meets brightness with appealing bass warmth basis. Planar magnetic drivers are known for their impressive control, especially in the low end. The one in the HOOK-X is no exception. While the mids are full of detail with excellent spacing, they’re warm enough to be engaging too. The ultimate test for me is the connection I feel to the music and with Hook-X I’m consistently singing along and strapped in for the emotional rollercoaster ride. Listening to Dimash Kudaibergen’s “Sinful Passion”, the vocals are full of sentiment and the cello is textured but at the same time oozes with an enchanting richness.

Of course the included cable is OCC silver-plated with coaxial shielding offering dynamic results, questioning ever rolling cables. Amazingly the cable and IEM are color matched stifling OCD desires you may have. It’s worth noting that vocals are sometimes on the edge of becoming sibilant, but they usually don’t cross that line. I’ve noticed some sibilance in the “Face It Alone” by Queen, or when playing video games, even at moderate volumes. The Raptgo Hook X HBB is a fresh breath of air in this IEM world invade with Harman and DF neutral tuning and offers a muscular musicality that doesn’t bet on one specific frequency range and delivers full-bodied dynamic for bass, mids, and treble. Pairing: I used a Quidelix 5k and a Topping DX1 dac through a SMSL SH-8s AMP. I don’t find the pairing to matter too much, but it certainly can.RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X are high-end in-ear monitors with a gorgeous design and detailed sound that will force you to relisten your entire music catalog. However, they only sound amazing 95% of the time. In terms of handling, the cable performs well. It’s fairly supple and has minimal microphonics. One of its most outstanding features though is its modular termination system. With this, you can easily switch between the 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations (all included in the box). Sound RAPTGO HOOK-X offer interchangeable AUX connectors on one side and a 2-pin connection on the other. However, you don’t get an inline mic or controls.

Customers have to bear any form of custom/import/processing fees that are applicable for your parcel. As Linsoul’s catalogue of Raptgo products show, the brand previously released two balanced armature IEMs, as well as a set of TWS earphones. The Hook-X is not only the brand’s first planar IEM, it’s also the first of its kind to make use of a piezoelectric driver. Granted, this 14.2mm planar magnetic driver can’t recreate a more natural thump of the regular dynamic driver. But I happily trade control and detail for that. RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X Frequency Response Using the included white ear tips (red line) results in a slight but audible boost from 5kHz and above. Midrange: Warm and natural

Housing is made of 2 parts; one is solid metal while the other is a metal grill (I assume), getting you a glimpse of the planar driver behind. A metal mesh showing a little bit of what’s inside the HOOK-X. It's slightly bright, without problematic peaks, harshness, or sibilance, so smoothly bright we can say where lushness meets brightness with appealing bass warmth basis. Note weight in the treble area has body to it. At least that’s what I hear. Cymbals crash and not splash. Granted cymbals also play a lot in the upper mids but the decaying crash is not tizzy, but more focused. Instruments in my library never sound harsh or peaky. The extension of the Highs rolls off on a pretty nice downward slope to capture most information well. Percussion and even strings residing in the upper areas sound as they should with enough vibrancy for me. I Will Survive (1981 recording, I like her voice, and the old vocals, the drums, and various natural instruments really make this a favorite for me. Because when well done, it’s all in the details. Then the drums again from the beginning are used. But they are actually the same drums used in other places. Just the fact that the drums are used in the song previously “Arena”............should be of no surprise. It’s as if these songs where cut up from a larger musical presentation, that in fact this whole thing all runs together like some giant live show! And not only that but “Arena” (the song prior) has the same DNA. There is a method here. A repeated theme with the drums. Still none of that takes away fro

Midrange​The midrange of the Hook-X does have good body and a little warmth carried over from the low-end. Mids sound forward as a whole and have good clarity. Notes have a crispness to them, and resolution is above average to me. Still the speed and separation of the midrange is quite good without losing that emotional tilt to my music. The midrange has an engaging quality to it, more so than the hi-res Timeless. Instead, the Hook has a more expressive and smoother and more moving presentation. The Timeless is a great set but for me the Hook-X fits me better. Piezoelectric is slightly fuzzy in contrast to BA, DD and Planar technology. What they are in-fact trying to do is a treble response which offers an alternative to the steely BA character.All in all, I enjoy the Hook X HBB both tonally and technically, it's more energic and more balanced in its muscular dynamic. The bass hit harder and add more fun to an engaging mature enough sound signature. Winter is cleaner, crisper, and leaner sounding and will please those seeking near analytical neutrality. Bass response of the Hook-X is, in my opinion, the standout quality of the IEM. While the sub-bass doesn’t reach all that low, the impact it provides is tight and incredibly controlled. The same can be said about the mid-bass, where you’ll also immediately notice the speed of the bass – fast and full of energy. My first impressions of the Hook is that it actually has a mid-range that reminds me of the softness and lower-resness of Aftershokz, which I have listened to recently within the last couple weeks. That said, its a pleasant sound, maybe too smoothed over, and missing exacting detail and edge. It's tonality is for the most part fine, it just presents sound a little softer and different. I wouldn't call this hi-res audio for some reason, but this is just my initial impressions after about an hour of listening. These are very comfortable to wear and the color of the cable is really nice. Connectors are also swappable. On the other hand, the imaging is spot on, with zero blurriness between the center and left/right channels.