The Hidizs MS3 was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links. The regular price of the MS3 is $169, but there is a promotion running with the discounted price of $119. You can order directly from Hidizs website or official Amazon store.
Hidizs MS3
The Hidizs MS3 is a brand new earphone in the Mermaid series, positioned one step before the flagship MS5. The driver count has decreased from five to three in a hybrid design that features one dynamic and two balanced armature drivers. The 10.2mm dynamic driver has dual magnetic circuits and dual cavities independently developed by Hidizs, and its diaphragm is a bio-nanofiber composite diaphragm. Two balanced armature drivers SWFK-31736 are responsible for the high frequency and ultra high frequencies. This is a very classic compound moving iron unit of Knowles. The redesigned crossover uses tantalum capacitors to control the crossover point. Tantalum capacitors have higher frequency response and lower ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance), which can provide clearer and more precise sound.
Hidizs Pneumatic Sound Tuning Filters
Exactly as the MS5, the Hidizs MS3 features the replaceable pneumatic sound tuning filter design that allows the user to experience three slightly different sound profiles by just changing the nozzle filters. There are three filters available; balanced, high frequency and low frequency. They are ring shaped filters that can be exchanged really fast by just screwing – unscrewing them with your fingers.
Build quality, appearance and fit
The outer resemblance to the MS5 is rather obvious, the two earphones share the same design language. The shell cavity and panel of the Hidizs MS3 are made from aviation aluminum alloy, which is carved by five-axis CNC. The cavity conforms to the ergonomic structure of the human ear and has been anodized to keep the surface clean. The faceplate has a pure black oxidation treatment and a three-dimensional shape like a flame jumps up to be highly recognizable. The Hidizs MS3 is beautiful, stylish and extremely well made.
The compact and rather lightweight (7.5g each) ear shells have an anatomical shape that helps a lot to achieve a comfortable and stable fit that doesn’t cause fatigue even after prolonged time of use. Passive noise attenuation is also very good thanks for snug placement of the ear shells.
Cable
The Hidizs MS3 supports an interchangeable cable with the 0.78mm, 2 pin, plug interface and a contact area that is larger and more stable than usual so it is not easy to bend, a design which further improves signal transmission and is more durable on the long run. The cable material is high-purity oxygen-free copper conductor manufactured by UPOFC technology, and the diameter of a single core reaches 0.08mm. The entire cable is composed of 192 oxygen-free copper wires, using 4-strand mixed braiding. The cable has a diameter of 6mm with a length of 1.2 meters and is equipped with a gold-plated earphone plug. The cable is durable, tangle resistant and it doesn’t induce microphonic noise. A really well made cable that you can order with either a 3.5mm or 4.4mm plug.
Accessories
The Hidizs MS3 comes with three types of silicone ear-tips, in three sizes each, that are stored in a foam tray and a carrying pouch.
Power requirements and associated gear
With 18Ω impedance and 112dB of sensitivity, the Hidizs MS3 is pretty easy to drive and also immune to source noise. You can start with a high quality USB DAC dongle like the Hidizs XO or S9 pro and then climb higher because the MS3 can follow source upgrades up to a certain level. The iBasso DX170 and FiiO M11S were my main sources during the review and as per usual practice the MS3 was burned for about 100 hours before listening evaluation.
Listening impressions
The Hidizs MS3 is not just a cheaper version of the MS5 with the same kind of tuning and lesser technicalities but a totally different sounding earphone with its own unique personality. The MS3 is more balanced and naturally tuned when compared to the MS5 which has a low-end prominence and a darker sound profile. Actually the Hidizs MS3 is one of the most natural and balanced sounding earphones of the category while it has a great technical foundation that makes it suitable for both casual and critical listening.
With the balanced filter attached, the low-end has plenty of presence and extension to satisfy with bass intense music without becoming dominant while it can reproduce all the low pitched instruments of the symphony orchestra with accurate tonality and without further coloration of their timbre. The mid-bass that follows a natural tuning curve, is well defined and crystal clear without bleeding into the mids. The technicalities are impressive for the category, the bass is resolving, tight and controlled with great clarity and excellent layering. The dynamic driver is very agile with fast recovery time so it can pass from silence to climax instantaneously without producing undesirable echoes or loss of control. The MS3 is very dynamic but not as impactful and visceral as the MS5, it is slightly lacking in weight and the texture is a touch leaner but thankfully not dry or thin.
The mid-range is rather balanced with a touch of upper-mids emphasis but not that pronounced to add sibilance or cause some kind of listener fatigue. It does give some extra presence and clarity but without making the instruments sound too thin or out of tune. The overall timbre is natural, the MS3 is musical, engaging and organic with plenty of colorful harmonies to display. The mids have a striking realism that punches well above the category and they are surprisingly resolving and finely articulated. Note weight is also good, the texture retains the same kind of intensity together with the low-end without the usual loss of body that a lot of hybrid earphones exhibit when the frequency transitions from the dynamic to the BA drivers.
The treble is energetic and exciting, luminous and brilliant but without sounding bright, harsh or aggressive. The MS3 is again more transparent and resolving that someone would expect from the category with great clarity and detail retrieval. The transition from the mids to the treble is even, there is no loss of texture intensity or any weird tonal shifts. The timbre is kept quite natural in accordance with the other parts of the frequency range while artificiality is kept quite low even at higher listening levels.
The soundstage is a real treat, wide and spacious with surprisingly good positioning accuracy and imaging. There is plenty of space around the performers and the overall presentation is grand with lots of ambient information.
The tuning filters
The bass filter is the most effective as it significantly alters the sound signature of the MS3 when compared to the balanced. Not only it enhances the low-end up to the mid-range but it also subdues a part of the upper mid-range, drastically changing the stock tuning of the Hidizs MS3 to the point that we can talk about a totally different sounding earphone. Now you have an MS3 with a considerably more prominent low-end which also sounds darker, warmer and less present in the upper-mid range. The overall clarity and transparency are reduced a little and the MS3 becomes smoother and more forgiving with plenty of bass to satisfy the needs of people who have more casual listening habits and like their bass emphasized.
On the other hand, the silver filter has a more minimal impact on the frequency response of the MS3, the only thing it does is to just add a bit of extra brilliance and bite to the upper mids, giving a touch of a brighter and sharper character to the earphone.
These are nice options to have and it gets pretty clear that the Hidizs MS3 is very adaptable and can easily match various kinds of music and listening habits. I found the stock filter the most balanced sounding and tonally correct one, the best for listening to classical music of all sorts, like the fine piano quartet in G minor by W.A Mozart.
Compared to the Hidizs MS5 ($499)
With the stock filters attached to both earphones, the Hidizs MS5 has a darker and warmer sound signature with a more prominent low-end. It sounds relatively muted in the higher frequencies, less aggressive and smoother. The bass is considerably more dynamic, visceral and impactful on the MS5 and despite the relative lack of energy in the upper-mids and treble, the MS5 resolves better than the MS3 and has a more refined and cleaner texture. There is also a difference in the soundstage presentation where the MS5 manages to draw a more holographic and deeply layered image. What is very interesting is that you can mimic the stock sound signature of the MS5 by just attaching the bass filters on the MS3. It should also be noted that the MS3 is more compact, lightweight and comfortable.
In the end
The Hidizs MS3 represents one of the best values in the market right now and an excellent choice for everyone looking for a balanced tuned IEM that can be further customized with the tuning filters and is also very comfortable, well made and with a reasonable asking price.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2023.
+ Balanced sound signature + Stellar technicalities for the category + Suitable for both casual and critical listening + Musical and engaging + Interchangeable tuning filters that offer two more sound profiles + Lightweight and super comfortable + Excellent build quality + High quality cable available with a 3.5mm or 4.4mm plug + Plenty of accessories + Great value for money - The treble filter is not that effective - Competition now comes with modular cables - Carrying pouch instead of a case
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