A poppy aesthetic, a well-rounded sound, and an appealing presentation fit for everyone who wants to take their very first plunge into the world of IEMs and audio hobbyists: that’s what HIDIZS projects from this product.
As you see, diving into the audio/IEM enthusiast circle for the very first time is no easy pickings: so much technical stuff to know, people to socialize with, and distinct opinions in the craft. Not to mention, where do you even start?
HIDIZS' My Lin is a great introductory pair if you’re new to the game; it offers an overall friendly audio experience, which is refreshing amongst the sea of ultra-technical IEMs and accessories that will definitely alienate a potential audio enthusiast in the making.
For starters, HIDIZS is an audio equipment brand that specializes in IEMs (in-ear monitors), DAPs (digital audio players), and several audio dongles. A household name at this point, the brand fine tunes their products with every release, while also taking suggestions from the audio community.
Disclosure
Special thanks to HIDIZS and Ms. Jessie Cheung for providing me with this review unit. We're not paid for this content, nor given HIDIZS a preview of this before publishing, ensuring this our 100% our thoughts.
The packaging
A rectangular box says hello to us with a tasty holographic Hidizs logo gracing the front and sides of it. The titular My Lin avatar is front and center, followed by its main specs, packaging contents, and other important information printed on the back. In short, it’s an appealing one fit for most people.
Opening it, we are greeted with the main drivers themselves, nestled inside a cutout. There’s also a host of tuning filters and various earbud sizes to tinker with. More on that later.
Lifting out the outer box reveals a nice standee of the My Lin avatar itself, which you can place on your table or work area. The standee is made from acrylic plastic. There’s also a whole host of stickers featuring the My Lin girl in various chibi emoticons, perfect for giving your notebook or water bottle some style.
Lastly, the faux leather carrying pouch and the cable itself. The leather pouch has a metal clamp inside the opening, making your IEMs secure during travel. The cable, in white, has a bright sparkle to it that ties to the drivers with much gusto.
The specs and design
The My Lin comes in a single color: black. It features a 1BA+1DD hybrid setup with special tuning made specifically for this IEM. Each of the drivers features a 10.2 mm dual magnetic circuit, which also has a dual cavity.
Inside, a Hidizs Silvercore BA driver powers the entire setup. Other specs include an N52 Grade Dual Magnetic Circuit and a Nano-DLC PU+PEEK diaphragm. It has a Lower Impedance rating of 17 ohms, with 111 decibels of higher sensitivity and 109dB higher dynamic rating.
The driver itself looked like it was carved from a meteorite rock or a slab of amethyst, which is reflective and looks like a gem when worn. It emits a unisex aura that pairs well with its white cable. Overall, the Hidizs My Lin passed with flying colors in the design department.
What’s the F? (Filters)
There’s a whole host of audio filters available for the My Lin that can enhance or change your listening experience. For starters, the red filter, which is already attached to the drivers, gives off decent clarity and nice treble. While listening with these filters, I noticed that it’s the most balanced output there. No matter what music I test, the volume seems reference-ish, and it also muted the harsh sounds (e.g., metal songs) in favor of an overall tasteful sound signature.
The black filter, upon changing to it, is perfect for house mixes, club beats, and other high-energy tunes that demand a lot of mid and sub-bass. I listen to a lot of vaporwave and lo-fi tunes, and this filter helped the bass in these tracks to surface a bit more, turning my nostalgia kicks to 11. Another bonus feature is when I listen to tracks such as “Tongue” by GFOTY, I noticed a lot of intricate sounds popping out that I never heard with other IEMs. Kindly speaking, this is my favorite filter, and I think most people will agree.
Finally, the white filter. This filter will tingle the ears of more experienced hobbyists due to the perks it gives: better soundstage, layering, vocal separation (e.g., Queen’s “The March of the Black Queen), and again, detail retrieval like the black filter, but this resurfaces it all.
Before I forget, the various-sized earbuds are your standard fare and don’t affect the listening experience. It serves its job well, but if you’re serious about a snug fit, you can buy custom ear tips.
With lots of filters that twist and curve your music in different ways, the My Lin just solidifies itself as a fun first IEM to buy. This is not your typical “baby’s first IEM”, but a full-bodied and decently priced one that will not insult your ears and leaves something for you to discover.
Sound profile
Reading some similar reviews online, they describe the My Lin as having a V-shaped sound signature, and I wholly agree. Don’t expect a Sennheiser HD600 with this. This IEM is meant for fun and to enjoy music by highlighting its best elements depending on the track. For bassheads, like most common people and beginners to the hobby, this delivers a deep punch with a solid and satisfying rumble to it.
Midrange sounds are a bit tamed; the vocals are there but not muddled. The right term for it is stock. I also observed that upon listening to vocal-heavy tracks (I listen to more instrumentals than traditional songs), when the vocals are deep, it’s full and wide. While falsetto vocals give it a brighter profile, which, to be honest, isn’t my cup of tea, since it’s a bit harsh for me. Good thing that you can switch the filters easily to alleviate it, if you share the same experience.
The treble is above average. I experienced some peaks that affected my listening a bit. It’s not much of a problem, but if you’re going to use the filter to combat this peaking, the red filter can seal the deal with its balanced output effect.
Usage
The more important thing than fun is comfort. This pair of IEMs got me through the day without any pain or tenderness around my ears. This is easily a great unit to bring during daily commutes, since you can wear it for hours without causing discomfort or irritation to your ears.
Of course, the gaming. During a three-hour gameplay, compared to an earphone bought online for around $10, the $10 one causes pain in my brother's (who’s a gamer) ears, while the My Lin performs better in the comfort and sound department. He also said that the My Lin produces better 3D sound when listening to enemy footsteps and situational gunfire, helping him to win 3 out of 5 battle royale matches he played.
The Verdict: Tekku Meter - 7/10
In conclusion, the Hidizs My Lin serves as a great entry point for serious yet new to the hobby enthusiasts, and for casuals who just want a better performing unit compared to their old wired earphones. It provides a sound signature that requires no fancy peripherals to run, and truly enhances any music listening session and gaming with its easy-to-change sound filters and friendly profile. Not to mention, the whole host of goodies included inside makes the My Lin a one-stop shop purchase.
Why we gave it a 7?
The Good.
- Great one-stop shop presentation
- Tasteful driver aesthetics
- Multiple interchangeable filters and tips
- Full-bodied bass
- Above average performance
- Comfortable to use
The Bad.
- Average treble
- Bright falsetto vocal reproduction isn’t my cup of tea
To know more about Hidizs My Lin, please click this link here.
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