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

Male Vocals​Starting with the lower midrange. Males have a stark and hefty sound. Broad bodied, full and distinct with a forward and inherently emotive sound. A low reaching voice like Avi Kaplan in “On My Way” sounds sonorous and very clear. The Hook is pleasing in tonal character and represents Avi’s vocals to my liking. There seems to be a nice balance with the rest of the song as well. wasn't the most exciting year in terms of the Chifi IEMs release, and safe tuning begin to ruin the listening fun we are seeking too. As if dynamic rendering always implies bad tonal loudness balance.

At 46 seconds the real bass hits, and while it has impact it’s kinda this whole flowing mood, where nothing is too abrupt, even though it is spectacularly an abrupt musical piece. This is maybe the magic at hand? The fact that everything is slightly sanded down to a digestible level. Not bad in any way, but smooth!

Raptgois a Chinese earphone company that is mostly known for its best-selling Hook X hybrid IEM, but they have other IEMs with different drivers configuration which include single DD, hybrid DD+BA, and Multi-BAs.

When I started writing this blog, there were virtually no planar in-ear headphones. The only model that I recall being there, and even then appearing a while after I started writing, was the Audeze iSine. Since then there’s been a lot of improvement in the technology and planar in-ears are now not so exceptional. The RAPTGO HOOK-X do not content themselves with using a planar driver, as they pair it with a piezoelectric driver that takes care of the upper range of frequencies. With results that I would define “mixed”.If there’s one area where I’m not completely sold on the Raptgo’s sound, it’s the treble; On one hand, it’s detailed and reasonably smooth. On the other hand, I hear a strange ringing or resonance every now and then. It reminds me very much of the BQEYZ Spring and Summer IEMs which coincidentally also contain a piezoelectric driver. Whether it’s the piezo or just the 8kHz peak I’m not sure but thankfully it doesn’t appear often enough to be a problem. That’s right, the Hook-X’s 14.2mm planar magnetic driver is paired with a bone-conduction driver. The planar driver is said to provide a strong bass response, while the piezoelectric driver handles the highs. The price point of 239 USD makes RAPTGO HOOK-X look like a steal, it is priced really really well compared to the competition, and you won’t ever feel like you’re being ripped off by the company. Even better, you’re getting a modular cable at a price that some companies ask just for such a high quality cable, and HOOK-X is actually so great that it is one of my current favorite IEMS from all the ones I’ve heard in the entry-level price range.

Drivers - IEMs use drivers to reproduce sound. These miniaturised driver components are like the ones used in full-size headphones but smaller. The drivers in IEMs include dynamic, balanced armature, planar magnetic, electrostatic, and hybrid drivers. All these drivers come with their lists of pros and cons.

They, too, use a 2-pin connection for the buds and over-the-ear wearing style. IEMs are even larger than the Hook but equally comfortable. 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 The Hook X HBB nail both musical balance and wow effect technical performance and merit to be applause for that.