7Hz . Time Plane Magnetic IEM Evaluation

Flat magnetic headphones are one of the most popular choices among audiophiles. It’s no surprise that the concept of shrinking these popular drivers down and applying them in-ear has fans extremely excited. While there have been some very good in-ear buffers, a lot of the good ones fall apart, whether it’s cost, sound quality, or comfort. A new player, 7Hz, aims to change that with the new Timeless in-ear display. These headphones have developed a huge amount of hype thanks to their mid-layer $219.99 prices and popular adjustments.

This is a review that was done for several weeks because, well, I can’t get enough of them. They sound incredible for the price and are some of the best flat IEMs you can buy for under $500.

Specifications

• Current price: $219.99 (Linsoul, Amazon)
• Driver: 14.2mm . flat driver
• Impedance: 14.8ohm
• Sound pressure level: 104dB / 1Khz
• Frequency response range: 5-40000hz
• THD: <0.2% / 1KHZ
• Connection: MMCX
• Faucet Diameter: 5mm
• Material: Aviation CNC aluminum housing

7Hz Timeless – Overview

Timeless are interesting headphones in many ways. The first thing you will notice about them is not their sound but their shape. The case is made from CNC-milled aircraft aluminum, but instead of using the traditional sculptural shape that has become so common in recent years, the outer shell is a large, circular plate. It certainly gives them a unique look and the circular milling on the face reflects light in an interesting way, but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Honestly, it’s an odd choice that I’m not quite on board, but it’s an accommodation I’m willing to create to make them sound like they are.

Inside those shells, the headphones use 14.2mm flat drivers. Unlike dynamic, cone-shaped drivers, these are a flat plane placed between a series of magnets. When powered, that plane oscillates in a magnetic field, propelling air and creating sound. Their unique construction allows them (when designed, engineered and precisely tuned) to deliver exceptional detail and low distortion across the frequency spectrum. These drivers provide a frequency response range of 5 – 40000 Hz, which is beyond the range of human hearing. Since most drivers will experience distortion outside of their frequency response, this helps ensure that what you can hear is distortion-free.

Due to their unique design, most flat speakers require a good amount of power to sound their best, but Timeless can be driven from most devices. They have low impedance (14.8 ohm) and reasonably high sensitivity (104dB) that can work well on my Samsung Note 20 Ultra with a DAC dongle. However, they work well with more power. I ran them in balanced mode with a Khadas Tone 2 Pro desktop amplifier and they sounded great.

Timeless comes with a nice set of accessories. Detachable MMCX cables are great. It comes in silver and is decorated with red and black connections that look great. It is also available for your choice of terminals: single 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm connectors. I was sent the balanced version but picked up a replacement cable to connect to my smartphone protector. There’s also an alternate set of tips in the box that can be installed to improve bass or vocals etc., but I found the default black tips to be balanced and comfortable.

The case is a bit more surprising. It’s basically a brushed aluminum block with a hinged lid. It’s too big to be easily carried in a pocket but sturdy and has strong magnets to keep it in a pocket. The inside is roomy enough to hold the headphones along with their cables and perhaps a spare set of DAC tips and dongles. It’s also cut with felt material so the headphones will be protected from scratches, although the adhesive on this top seems a bit weak. Mine started to peel slightly below the hinge after just a week.

7Hz Timeless – Comfort and Fit

Despite their odd looks, I find the Timeless particularly well suited. Wide round faceplates are just that: plates. Behind them is the usual sculpted body nestled in your ear. There are no hard corners or sharp edges that are uncomfortable to wear for users with average ear sizes. The nozzles are also just long enough to fit snugly into the ear canal. I can wear them for hours in total comfort. I admit to being shocked that they are still as comfortable as they are. They don’t look like they would be.

With that in mind, I’m concerned about users with large ears. Listeners with larger ears may notice that the nozzles don’t extend far enough to achieve a snug fit without pressing the disc against the outer ear. I can’t say this from personal experience, but the nozzles are relatively shallow, and it’s easy to see how it can happen.

7Hz Timeless – Impressive Listening

For what really matters, sound! 7Hz Timeless is the best fine-tuned flat IEM I’ve ever heard. I must foretell that by saying that I haven’t heard of the most expensive options on the market. However, I have spent a lot of time with other flat IEMs at $200-300, like HarmonicDyne PD1 and TinHiFi P1, and all of this put them to shame. 7Hz Timeless finally achieves what makes many flat over-ear headphones so enjoyable: great body and great detail, then adds great tones and music.

Credit: In-ear fidelity (Crinacle)

Timeless isn’t perfectly balanced, so audiophiles might have problems with its less-than-neutral tuning, but I like it. This is an IEM for people who want a bit of low quality in their music without sacrificing mid-range tone and detail. As a huge fan of musical instruments – everything from metal instruments like Andy James and Angel Vivaldi – to the relaxing lo-fi during long writing sessions, the 7Hz tuning and tone was here to help. Listening to music becomes enjoyable without getting caught up in basshead territory. rest of the spectrum. In other words, this headset is able to deliver some good banging, punch, and form while still sounding like a well-detailed machine.

Unlike many audiophiles, when I’m listening, I’m not looking for perfect neutrality. I’m looking for enjoyment, energy and to hear every little detail without having certain things behind a cloud. Metal guitars, like Angel Vivaldi, can sound thin on highly detailed headphones or muffled sounds on headphones that weigh about a pound. Or jump into a Battlefield match (yes, 2042), bass machines can often capture location and fine detail, as footsteps, broken glass, and other “invisibles” draw you into the experience. experience. Not here. This has enough body and presence to draw you in, fuel excitement and still allow you to clearly hear every layer of what you’re hearing.

As a guitar player, I insist on that for details. There are nuances to the melody, especially with harmonized instruments that allow them to be heard separately while blending seamlessly together. The tuning here is almost perfect for hearing the nuances of guitars and other mid-range instruments. That’s true for acoustic guitars, synths, and stringed instruments. You’ll hear your fingers slide over strings, bends, harmonics, and slides with clarity and enjoyment.

Before I sell these headphones too much, they Not perfect. Soundstage and images are just decent. They are similar to those with other headphones, which means they don’t stand out too much. Not bad, but it’s nothing special on its own.

It also means that they are not the best choice for gaming (and to be fair, very few IEMs are). However, if you’re spending upwards of $200 on IEMs, you should know if they work to plug in a laptop when you’re at the campus library playing some games between classes. And yes, they’re fine, but don’t expect them to compete with your favorite gaming headset in terms of soundstage and atmosphere. They respond very well to Dolby Atmos though, so definitely try them out with spatial sound.

But, I have to say, these headphones are one of the biggest surprises of the year. They bring the classic flat tone to the IEM without the usual sacrifices. The plane in IEM is still a bit rare, but this is an impressive performance from a brand new entrant. Interesting stuff.

Epilogue

7Hz Timeless is really a good value for money headset. It finally delivers on the promise of a flat in-ear machine without the need to switch to a bulky device Audeze iSine or super expensive Audeze Euclid. The fact that it comes from a relatively unknown brand like 7Hz is surprising and exciting for what they can offer in the future. For $219.99, this is a great purchase and proves that hype can sometimes be true.

Find 7Hz Timeless at Linsoul or Amazon.