Preamble
Somehow, as luck would have it, the pre-order for the 7Hx x Crinacle: Salnotes Dioko (what a mouthful!) went live early and somehow I managed to check my computer and order it right then. However, as bad-luck would have it, I was one of the first 150 people to get the Dioko with the wrong tuning filters installed.
Linsoul, who I bought this from, sent out an email almost immediately about the incorrect tuning filters and their solution for it – a new tuning filter and tweezers kit. Crinacle also immediately responded on his platforms.
Both Crinacle and 7Hz did a great job catching the issue, as 150 units is probably a very small sample of what they were producing. I received the Dioko, but it took almost a month for the new tuning filters to finally arrive. The only thing that Linsoul could have done better was to expedite the shipping for the new filter kit. It was horrible having the Dioko sitting on my desk, with incorrect tuning (which wasn’t very good).
The kit was a little fiddly to install, but I’m also a DIY kind of person, so it came naturally to me.
Intro
Welp, it’s another collaboration.
Are you getting sick of these yet? I almost am too. <small tangent starts now> However, these collabs – specifically Crinacle and HBB – are pushing IEM brands to tune better. They are expanding the tuning boundaries beyond a “house sound” and into what the consumer actually wants to hear. </rant>
Even though the Dioko is a collab, this is the first planar magnetic driver collab. These types of drivers are wildly popular right now for IEMs and the Dioko is by far the cheapest one yet.
For the uninitiated of us, this is a completely flat driver, surrounded by magnets on both sides. Without getting into too much technical jargon, this type of driver results in a fast, push-pull type of diaphragm, giving incredible detail and speed. These types of drivers are very popular in high-end over the ear headphones.
For more information on Planar Magnetic Headphones, these articles and video are very helpful:
- What Are Planar Magnetic Headphones
- Complete Guide To Planar Magnetic Headphones
- Anatomy of a Planar Magnetic Headphone Driver (video)
Planar drivers are popular right now in IEMs because companies have only just started (in the last year or two) to be able to tune these well. Sure there have been companies like Audeze that have been making them for many years, but if you look at the frequency response graphs…they’re kind of a mess.
My first impression of the Dioko was a solid, “meh.” But, the more I’ve listened and adjusted to the tuning, the more and more I’ve really started to love it! This is a completely different take on tuning for a planar IEM currently.
Are planar drivers just another trend or is there really something to them? Keep reading and find out!
Tech Specs
Driver Configuration: 14.6mm Planar
Sensitivity: 106db/v@1kHz
Impedance: 16Ω
Frequency Response: 5Hz- 40kHz
Connector: 0.78mm 2 Pin
What’s in the Box?
When opening the outer box, you are presented with an absolutely crazy carrying case. It is HUGE. Obviously this isn’t a pocketable carrying case, unless you happen to be wearing JNCO jeans from the early 90’s. It’s made of textured leather (I think) and has a giant red number 7 on the front. It’s made incredibly well and is super strong and tough – I wonder if it’s lined in metal.
Within the case, there is a nice place for the cable to coiled up and the earpieces themselves to have their own individual compartments. This is a very, very nice case. While some reviewers are appalled at the size of it, I think it’s a very nice touch that helps add a sense of premiumness to the Dioko themselves – this case makes them feel way fancier than what you paid for. Heck, this case could be worth $50 all on its own. Needless to say, I like it.
The cable is very nice as well. It reminds me of the Letshuoer S12’s cable, but with a silver and copper braid. It’s not too heavy, doesn’t tangle easily, and looks good on its own. It has a 0.78mm 2pin connector for the IEMs and ends in the typical 3.5mm plug. What can I say, it’s a decent cable and does the job well.
Included in the carrying case are 6 pairs of rainbow colored eartips. There are 3 pairs of small, medium, and large in both narrow and wide diameter bores. The Dioko comes pre-installed with a pair of red eartips that remind me of the AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal, somewhere between the small and medium small size (about 11.4mm wide).
These red tips are very nice and get soft as they warm up from your body heat in your ear. These tips feel very premium as well.
Now, onto the elephant in the room, the Dioko themselves.
They are a very large shape for IEMs, the outside being a massive 1 ⅛ inch oval fitted with tempered glass and sapphire coating. The inside is a solid CNC machined aluminum ending in a pretty massive 6mm diameter nozzle. The build quality is very good and doesn’t have any sharp edges anywhere.
In terms of design and looks, these are going to be very polarizing. Once you get over the weird shape and huge size, the deep purple effect is really gorgeous and helps make the Dioko look exquisite.
However, once you realize that it is not a piece of jewelry to be worn and that it is meant to be in your ears…things change. To me, it feels massively gaudy and almost embarrassing to wear in public as an IEM. Yikes, that’s not a good thing. Again, I’m not against the purple color at all, but the flashy jewelry look isn’t for me.
Fit, Comfort, & Isolation
Each earpiece weighs in at 9.2 grams – which is on the heavier side of things, however not nearly as chunky as the 12 gram Kato! The fairly short nozzle required me to up-size my usual tips since they have a fairly shallow fit. But even with the premium red eartips on, they just weren’t comfortable for me. The large Moondrop Spring Tips worked wonders and I can wear these for extended amounts of time. Obviously, it may be different for your ears. When I use my normal sized eartips, the Dioko has to be pushed too far in and quickly becomes very uncomfortable. Isolation is completely average, once you get a good fit.
Sound
Overall
Utterly daft looks aside, these are the only mostly balanced planar IEMs out right now. The rest have a light v-shaped sound. In fact, the tuning is very similar to the KZ x Crinacle CRN and the frequency response graphs of the two display this. If you’re familiar with the CRN sound, you’ll know that it is a slightly bright-neutral signature with a slight emphasis on the sub bass.
This tuning is again done incredibly well and is very clean. It is lean, almost too bright, and the bass is neutral as well.
If you’ve never heard a planar driver before, these tend to be sharp, fast, and the treble can have a “bite” to it. The Dioko is no exception to this.
Bass
The sub bass is slightly elevated, although definitely not to bass-head levels. It sounds bigger than it is because the sub bass subtly glides into the mid bass, which is very balanced, if not lightly lean. There is not a lot of meat on the bones here and the Dioko does not have slam, thump, or impact. However, the speed of the planar driver gives it great texture and resolution.
Bass guitars, kick drums, and upright basses sound alive, deep, textured, and yet smooth.
Hello Mr. planar driver, I see you there.
Mids
The mids of the Dioko are the typical Crinacle style of tuning. It’s safe, smooth, and very natural. Vocals stand out, both male and female. They are life-like and highly detailed. Pianos sound absolutely perfect. Woodwinds and flutes are beautifully delicate, airy, and fast. Snares have a snap to them that I’ve only ever heard in real life. Everything in this frequency range is “chefs kiss.”
Treble
This is planar treble, for better and for worse. While that sounds dramatic, I’m really splitting hairs here and it is a very tiny complaint, if you can even call it that. The upper treble can have a slight unnatural emphasis, making things like cymbals shimmer for almost too long. Certain instruments like synths and guitar distortion harmonics can get a little shouty and make the treble uneven at times. There are songs that I listen to that have built-in sibilance that I test with. The Dioko goes right up to the sibilance threshold and just smooths it off from there. If you are treble sensitive, there are no planar driver IEMs on the market right now for you and the Dioko is no exception to that.
Also like most planars, the Dioko goes strongly up to the limit of hearing, bringing a sense of beautiful airiness that once only expensive, high-end IEMs could bring.
Technicalities
Instrument separation and imaging are well above average, which again, is a common theme with planar drivers. The Dioko sits right up there with the S12 and the dynamic driver Olina – the latter might just slightly edge it out by the tiniest of margins. Instruments are apart, but there is not a huge amount of room between them. They are not quite pinpoint accurate or 3D, but the Dioko definitely performs better that most others that usually cost significantly more.
The soundstage has slightly above average width, but isn’t very tall or deep. It is barely better than the S12, but falls short when compared to the stage of the Olina.
Just like other planar IEMs, detail retrieval and micro-details are on another level for the Dioko. It could be argued that they match the S12 or 7Hz Timeless or are slightly better. Things like cymbal strikes, crunchy distortions, string plucking, and woodwinds blowing are absolutely exceptional. You will hear things in your music that you’ve never heard before. Again, for the price of the Dioko, this is truly spectacular performance.
Conclusion
Planar drivers have come a long way the past couple of years. The Dioko brings them into the mainstream price range and pushes the boundaries of what an IEM can achieve for under $100. This is truly remarkable.
As of this writing, there are a handful of good planar IEM choices that you can make. If you want a more neutral planar with a hint of sub bass, look no further than the Dioko. If you want a less analytical, more fun, and slightly v-shaped sound: go for the S12 or Timeless. These are all great options and you can’t really go wrong.
Even though the Dioko’s looks definitely are not my style, I keep coming back to them and they have stayed on my desk to use, longer than most. I’ve been preferring them to the S12.
For less than $100, I highly recommend the Dioko. If planars aren’t your thing, the Olina is the next best bet, but you’ll be missing out on something special.