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

The soundstage is another highlight of Hook X, it’s very open wide, and tall with more than decent deepness even if slightly opaque timbre interferes with psychoacoustic traveling of this depth. Most of all, it’s very holographic, so hey, VR-approved too? Why not! I was looking forward to the HBB x Raptgo Hook. I have ranked and tried out the original Hook, but wanted to try something with a different look.. The soundstage is another highlight of Hook X, it's very open wide, and tall with more than decent deepness even if slightly opaque timbre interferes with psychoacoustic traveling of this depth. Most of all, it's very holographic, so hey, VR-approved too? Why not! Unfortunately, the cable included with my first unit experienced a quality control failure out of the box. The wiring for the right channel was faulty somewhere above the swappable termination and only outputted at full volume when held in certain orientations. Swapping to another cable fixed the issue. I also obtained a replacement unit, which did not have this issue with the cable. This failure has been reported by other end-users on Head-Fi. It is a shame that this issue exists because I like the Hook-X’s cable from an aesthetic and functional perspective, and I presume that the modular cable design is in large part responsible for the Hook-X’s price premium over similarly-specced planar-magnetic IEMs like the 7Hz Timeless and Letshuoer S12.

Minami aids in the automation, manufacturing, and R&D of electroacoustic components and accessories. And having a history of cooperation with big audio names such as Sennheiser, Bose, and more, it was only a matter of time before the company running behind the scenes takes a turn at showcasing what they have through their brand. S12 and Timeless are still probably my favorite two Planar iems out there. The i4 is fantastic if you can handle using EQ/cipher cable and deal with sometimes very frustrating fit, but it cost a bundle and then some.Customers are to bear the consequences and fees incurred, if the parcel was undelivered due to any of the following situation: Leave a Reply Cancel reply Did you like the review? Let me know! Please note that you should write in English, as comments in other languages will be deleted. Thank you! 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. 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 you haven’t heard of Raptgo before….you’re not alone. Although the hard shell carrying case that comes with the Hook-X proudly states “since 2019,” the brand hasn’t exactly released any standout products. That is, until this particular IEM. The size is a bit chunky but not too big, part of the shell that enters your ears has an organic shape and isn’t thought for deep insertion unless you use super long triple-flanged ear tips (but why?). These aren’t too heavy and I find them super comfortable for long-time listening. I think it’s evident that the Dunu Talos is a joke compared to the Hook X HBB. No more comments apart that planar mode is good and offers a smoother leaner and more neutral tonality than HBB, with inferior technicalities and less dynamic and engaging musicality.

Sound & Specs

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. Want more like this.. perhaps it is the vented nature of the chassis which reduces listening fatigue I haven’t had the opportunity to test out every planar driver out there, however of those which I have tested, the Raptgo Hook-X sounds the most complete to me. This is a dynamically balanced approach. A balance is nothing new for Planar iems, in fact the Timeless has a good balance across the spectrum. What I hear different is the overall dynamics and a more engaging or even emotional tilt towards the music in my library. Heftier note weight also. You could even say a smoother presentation I suppose. That is debatable though. I don’t have the Timeless in hand to directly compare the two so even mentioning it isn’t really fair. So I’ll be the first one to stand up and say bravo! Not only is this 100% great sounding, it’s mature sounding. CASE: The case is simple and perfectly compact. I use this case as my daily case for whenever I am out of the house.