Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4 2DD+4BA in Ear Monitor, HiFi IEM Earphones with Tonal Balance, Latest Sonion Driver, Detachable Silver-Plated OCC Cable for Audiophile Musician Professionals (Black)

The THIEAUDIO Hype 4 is a mid-range in-ear monitor (IEM) that has garnered significant attention for its impressive sound quality and design. Priced at $399, it offers a compelling option for audiophiles seeking high-performance audio without venturing into the ultra-premium market. Design and Build Quality The Hype 4 features a sleek and ergonomic design, ensuring a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. The IEMs are crafted with high-quality materials, providing both durability and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The included silver-plated OCC cable enhances clarity and refinement, contributing to the overall premium feel of the product. Sound Performance The Hype 4 employs a hybrid driver configuration, utilizing two dynamic drivers and four balanced armature drivers, including THIEAUDIO’s IMPACT technology. This setup delivers a sub-bass-boosted neutral tuning signature, offering deep and controlled bass, natural mids, and detailed treble. The soundstage is notably wide, with excellent stereo imaging and layering capabilities, making it suitable for both audiophiles and professionals seeking accurate sound reproduction. Pros: Balanced Sound Signature: The Hype 4 provides a tasteful U-shaped sound signature, with well-represented male and female vocals, making it versatile across various music genres. Comfortable Fit: The ergonomic design ensures a secure and comfortable fit, suitable for long listening sessions without causing fatigue. High-Quality Cable: The included silver-plated OCC cable enhances audio clarity and adds to the premium feel of the IEMs. Cons: Bass Emphasis: While the deep bass is appealing to many, it may be overwhelming for listeners who prefer a more neutral or treble-focused sound signature. I had to equalize the bass region down a bit to prevent it overwhelming the midrange. Upper Treble Presence: Some users have noted that the upper treble can be slightly exaggerated, which might be distracting in certain tracks. It stands out in its price range, offering a combination of high-quality build, comfort, and impressive sound performance. Its balanced tuning and deep bass make it a solid choice for those seeking an enjoyable listening experience with depth. However, individuals sensitive to bass-heavy or treble-emphasized sound signatures may want to audition the Hype 4 before making a purchase. Overall, it represents a strong value proposition in the competitive IEM market.

I was somewhat underwhelmed by the Hype 4 when I first got them and put them on. They sounded great, don't get me wrong, but just, not as big a jump in perceived sound quality as I'd been hoping for, coming from the position of having a lot of experience with IEMs in the $200-300 range. But diminishing returns is a serious thing with IEMs, and you should never expect $400 IEMs to be "twice as good" as a pair that costs $200. They can still be worth the premium, of course, but you really need to temper your expectations with IEMs in this price bracket. But after a few weeks I keep finding myself coming back to the Hype 4, and I've started to understand what sets them apart and makes them worth $400. And at this point I can confidently say: Yes, these are fantastic IEMs. If you're considering them and don't automatically wince at the price, just buy them. I doubt many people could be truly disappointed with the Hype 4. Let's start with the tuning: the Hype 4 are sometimes called "V-shaped," but that's really not accurate at all. They're actually pretty close to the neutral "new meta" tuning, just with a bass shelf and a couple of treble peaks. Take a look at a graph and compare them to something like the Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 or Kiwi Ears KE4, both renowned for being pretty dang close to a perfect "new meta" tuning. The Hype 4 are tuned VERY similarly to the Monarch Mk2 - just with more bass emphasis. So I would call them fairly neutral-warm overall. If you like bass, these will probably make you very happy, unless you're just an absolute bass nut or something. You can only push bass so far with IEMs before it sounds totally muddy - the Hype 4 nail it, imo. Bass is warm, full, punchy, natural, and CLEAR. There is a distinct separation between sub-bass, bass, and lower mids, and that's what you want with any IEM, really. You really FEEL bass drum hits or 808s. And yet, those "boomier," punchier sounds don't drown out the bass guitar or synth or anything else in that lower range. It all just works together perfectly. On really well-recorded tracks, the bass emphasis of the Hype 4 really helps sell the feeling of "space" and three-dimensionality. Mids are crystal clear and neither over- nor under-emphasized. Vocals are very clear and distinct, very "forward," so to speak, but they are almost never shouty or piercing. Treble is very pleasant - I really despise IEMs with over-emphasized treble, as it almost always sounds shouty, piercing, and fatiguing to my ears. The Hype 4 gets treble right, at least for me. It's cranked up just enough to create that feeling of "detail" and "headspace" while never really overwhelming the mids or hurting my ears. Soundstage is a very subjective thing, and frankly I don't think it's as REAL a thing as the audiophile community seems to believe it is. As such, I don't really like to talk about soundstage when reviewing IEMs. All I'll say for the Hype 4 in this area is that they feel very spacious. Imaging, on the other hand, is very much a real thing, and tends to not get enough focus in reviews. The Hype 4 have pretty good imaging. Not the best I've ever heard, but far from the worst. In most cases, the Hype 4 present individual instruments and voices very clearly and distinctly from one another. The fact of the matter is, some songs are just poorly produced, and neither the Hype 4 nor any other IEM can pull distinct images out of mud. But on well-engineered tracks, imaging is very good, especially considering their bass-emphasized tuning. Comfort is also subjective. I find the Hype 4 to be perfectly comfortable in my ears over long periods of time. But they are big, so if you have small ears, these may be too much for you. They're far from the biggest out there, mind you. I would think the vast majority of people could use them comfortably with the right tips. The cable is fine. I replaced it with a Tripowin cable purely for aesthetics. Oh, speaking of aesthetics, they look really nice. I bought the white/pink/purple sparkly ones and they look and feel very premium. All in all, I think the Hype 4 are excellent neutral-warm IEMs and an easy "blind buy" recommendation. I think they're worth the price - they're not "twice as good" as the KE4s, for example, but that extra $200 really does get you another level of clarity and spaciousness. To me, that's worth the premium. My recommended IEMs per price bracket: $25: 7hz x Crinacle Zero 2 $50: Truthear x Crinacle Zero: RED $100: 7hz x Crinacle Dioko $150: Truthear Nova $200: Kiwi Ears KE4 or 7hz Timeless 2 $300: DUNU x Gizaudio DaVinci $400: Thieaudio Hype 4

My experiences with IEMs started with the TruthEar Crinacle Zero to see if I could make switch from headphones to IEMs. Once I felt comfortable with that then I bought the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lites which I returned and then bought from friend who sold his and I just got used to them. Fabulous pair of IEMs that I still use even if the pressure and size of it bothers me occasionally. I also have the Sony WF-1000XM3 and WH-1000XM4 for use when traveling so don't mind spending money for the better experience. First off, the Hype 4 is a gorgeous set of IEMs. The white color ones in particular stood out to me and are even better to look at in person. Size and nozzle compared to the OL are smaller so were easy to wear in my ears for extended periods of time the brief time I had them and the sound without a DAC/AMP were fine but really shine with one like the Qudelix 5K pictured with the Hype 4 above. Wanted an IEM that had more bass while still retaining the treble I liked in the OL and with some tweaking it was the perfect IEM to use. The price of $399 for them I think is more than fair for the performance it provides for the user. Wish they provided a little more in terms of the case provided to store them which is in the large side and the ear tips were better, but nothing something like the DUNU S&S (also pictured above) could help to get the most out of the Hype 4. Even with all the positives the few negatives I encountered had me returning these (twice in fact). The issue I ran into is as a controller player I needed a boom or inline mic wire to pair it with in order to chat with friends on Discord, Xbox and PlayStation and the options are limited out there. Originally, I tried using the Kinera Gramr Modular and Linsoul KINERA Celeste RUYI with boom mics but the pin on the mic wires is too big for the Hype 4 port so the connection couldn't be seated properly and was loose as a result. Then my friend suggested the okcsc inline mic but same issues with the connection not seating properly causing the IEM to pop loose with very little touching which is not ideal to say the least. Finally, I found the Linsoul Tripowin Grace which is I guess technically on brand and seated firmly into the port of the Hype 4 which was a relief when I felt that soft click. Thought I had solved my problems there but my luck isn't that good apparently. The issue with Tripowin cable is it was echoing audio from what I was watching/playing/listening to from video games to online content like YouTube and Twitch to the chat I was in. First I thought it was Discord doing it but testing it on Xbox had the same issues when playing or watching YouTube/Twitch while in a party chatting with friends. Trying the other cables I had I couldn't reproduce the same issue at all. Finally, I decided to give up on this IEM and return it and the Tripowin Grace to Amazon for a refund. If you don't have the niche issue I have, the Hype 4 is an amazing IEM you can drive as is with no DAC but truly shines with one if you have one. The sound is amazing and for the money spent well worth it IMO. I really, really, REALLY wanted to make it work but the cable issues prevented me from keeping it but if you buy it for purely the music listening experience you won't be disappointed.

Sounds vert clear. All round tuning but not vocal forward The unit itself is great but its packaging is just OK.. compared to other iems brands. Also one of the ear tip was defective that It was torn when I received so I may have to return it...

I bought these after purchasing the Aful Performer 8 and returning them. The Performer 8 was detailed, but in a way that made the music feel like it was etched into glass or something. It was detailed, but in a way that was clinical and not all that musical sounding. Almost like IEMs for robots or something. The Hype 4 is a different story. Still highly detailed, but buttery smooth and highly musical. The bass is tight, detailed, and relegated to the low frequencies where it belongs. There is no bleed from the bass into the mid-range. It is a role player, and it does its job extremely well. The volume of the bass isn't the first thing that will grab you, but you'll find that on tracks where it is meant to shine (EDM, hip-hop, things like that) it shines. Mid range detail is beautiful. Orchestral music and film scores with strings heavy arrangements sound beautiful. The level of separation and detail you get in a complex instrument section like an orchestra is very realistic and convincing. I wouldn't necessarily call these IEMs mid forward, but the mids are satisfying all the same. The treble absolutely sings. Tremendous detail in the upper ranges, but without any harshness at all. There may be a slight (slight) tilt towards brightness with these IEMs, but don't let that scare you. It's done in a way that is extremely smooth (I can't stress that word enough). Excellent treble detail, but they never sound cold or sibilant. Soundstage is wide and realistic. I've watched movies wearing these and there are sounds that will have me turning my head to see where they came from. I wouldn't have any problem recommending these to anyone looking for an IEM in this price-range. Note: I've been using them with Comply foam 500 series tips. Primary source for listening to music is my Android phone into a Dragonfly Cobalt using bit-perfect streaming to the DAC. When watching movies I connect a Fiio BTR15 to my smart TV and plug them into that.

These are incredibly well tuned IEMs. I only listen to metal (metalcore, melodic death, tech death, etc), and these reproduce the low end you want to feel extremely well. They don’t slam in the mid bass as hard as I would like, but the trade off is that you get extremely controlled and refined sub bass with a smooth transition to the mids with zero mud, even on fast double kick parts. It’s a wonderfully cohesive presentation that makes you move every time your favorite breakdown hits. The mids are fairly neutral, not overly warm or recessed, and the highs are bright but smooth. I am running these on my JDS Labs ATOM AMP 2 and DAC 2 stack, and they really open up when you give them some juice. I’m docking two stars because I received an open box product when I ordered a new one. This is the second time Amazon has sent me an open box IEM product in the span of a few days, unfortunately. And because Thieaudio products are not part of Amazon’s inventory (or so the customer service rep told me) the replacement process is annoying and overly complicated. So I may just keep them. I’ve only had the Hype 4s for a few days, so I will update this review as I continue to listen to them.

The hype 4 is the pinnacle of sound for your dollar. It sounds almost as good as $1000+ IEM’s, and the build quality is the same as my monarch mk3. Everything about this iem just works for me. It thumps hard, has clear and clean vocal presentation, and high frequency presence just sparkles.

This is an excellent piece of audio technology. I hesitated to buy this for a bit because I own the Dusk and I also have the monarch mark 3. But let me say I’m blown away by these. The fit and comfort is very good with no issues whatsoever. The cable is high quality and very functional. The audio quality is excellent for my use case. I very much enjoy the sound signature. There is very good bass impact and slam. The mids are very well placed and the treble extension is very strong. Overall bass boosted and bright leaning sound. The item got delivered quick from the seller as well. Overall I’m happy with the 3.5 mm audio jack that’s not swappable. The clarity these bring is outstanding.