Intro
Contents
With a brand name like Punch Audio, you create expectations. We received the Portazo in-ear monitor for review. ‘Bass Powerhouse meets Ultra Clear Trebles’. Well, that sounds promising!
Punch Audio is a sub-brand of Linsoul. Linsoul can be compared to Thomann, but for personal audio. Thomann also releases products under its own name or other original brand names, alongside products from other brands.
Planar
What is interesting about the Punch Audio Portazo is that it is an in-ear with two planar (magnetostatic) drivers and one dynamic driver for the low frequencies. We don’t see that very often! Anyone who reads more of my reviews knows that I have a preference for planar headphones and prefer to listen to electrostatic ones. The speed of these systems and phase coherence ensure a relaxed and natural reproduction of music. Hours of listening without fatigue. Who wouldn’t want that?
The Portazo comes with six eartips, a sturdy cable with an adapter for 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm connections, spare filters and a well-finished, spacious carrying case. The cable feels sturdy. I did have some trouble finding well-fitting eartips. This is really important with IEMs; keep trying until you find the right ones, even if it means buying a new set.
Mooi dat jullie regelmatig IEMs testen. Om een serieus goede IEM te kopen ben ik vorig jaar een aantal modellen gaan luisteren, en het is de Campfire Audio Astrolith geworden. Uitgerust met plane drivers en ruim boven de 2000 euro, maar wat een gebalanceerde sound! Dit moet je echt een keer beluisterd hebben. De Astrolith heeft een wat V shape geluidsbeeld (het mid is iets meer teruggetrokken) goed ruim in de bas en een prachtig hoog. In combinatie met een goede DAP natuurlijk en high res audiofiles, een belevenis.
De FiiO FX17 heb ik ook beluisterd en deze is ook (heel!) erg goed. Toch de Astrolith vond ik fijner om langere tijd in te hebben, draagt prettiger en lichter.
Ik heb enkele ChiFi IEMs beluisterd en getest (merken als KZ), deze waren ruim onder de 100 euro, en niet slecht presterend maar in vergelijking met de toppers van FiiO en Campfire ga je met de ChiFi terug naar Mp3, terwijl ik echt naar Wav luisterde: het geluid wordt platter, je levert in op dynamiek en maakt mij luistermoe binnen 15 minuten. Verder prima IEMs voor podcasts en Youtube filmpjes maar voor muziek schiet het tekort. High End is het echt niet.
Since this is the English section of our platform, I will translate your comment: “It’s great that you regularly test IEMs. To buy a seriously good IEM, I listened to a number of models last year, and I ended up choosing the Campfire Audio Astrolith. Equipped with plane drivers and costing well over £2,000, but what a balanced sound! You really have to listen to this at least once. The Astrolith has a somewhat V-shaped sound (the midrange is slightly more recessed), good bass and beautiful highs. Combined with a good DAP and high-resolution audio files, it’s an experience.
I also listened to the FiiO FX17, which is also (very!) good. Still, I found the Astrolith more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time, as it is lighter and more comfortable to wear.
I listened to and tested a few ChiFi IEMs (brands such as KZ), which were well under £100 and didn’t perform badly, but compared to the top models from FiiO and Campfire, the ChiFi takes you back to MP3, whereas I was really listening to WAV: the sound becomes flatter, you lose dynamics and it makes me tired of listening within 15 minutes. Otherwise, they are fine IEMs for podcasts and YouTube videos, but they fall short for music. They are definitely not high-end.”
I have listened to a number of top models from 64Audio, Campfire and, previously, electrostatic versions from Stax. On stage, I use in-ear monitors from Shure and am perfectly satisfied with some KZ IEM’s. A while ago, I review final B1 and B2. Very interesting IEM’s as well: https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/review-final-audio-b1-and-b3-in-ear-headphones/
These premium brands have MMCX connectors. Chi-fi is, imho, making swift progress in enhancing the sonic achievements of IEM’s. The pricing is rising, but still at affordable levels. I tested Kiwi Ears Orchestra II with 10 BA-drivers, at a price point of 349 EUR. I didn’t do an AB comparison but it approaches the much pricier IEM’s of afore mentioned brands. Also the quality of the cables and connectors is improving. I definitely would qualify this one as high end.