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 Hook-X has a pronounced lower treble peak which can create an excessive sizzle to high-frequency percussion like cymbals. This can be mostly tamed with the use of foam eartips. There is a faint but distinct sense of oversharpening to transients in the lower and mid-treble, which is a timbral inaccuracy inherent to piezoelectric drivers. With that said, it is much less severe than on other IEMs with piezoelectric drivers I’ve used in the past. The Hook-X has very good upper treble extension, which combined with the semi-open design, creates a spacious soundstage. The Hook-X also has excellent instrument separation. Imaging is quite good as well, which is useful for gaming. The Raptgo Hook-X is a refreshing new addition to the existing and rapidly growing planar magnetic IEM category. Not only does it sound good but it shows the makers have a certain flair for original and interesting physical designs. 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. 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.. Even before the 32 second “blast” we hear what sounds like a supporting set of violins....way off to the right. Now of course orchestras “talk” to themselves. But this sound is not reverb. It’s maybe the resonance of slower delay in instruments? What ever it is it’s singularly fantastic. And I’m not even 30 seconds in! Now I hear it better, there is another accompaniment that is of stings! Of course. It’s a style of synchronization or syncopation.... I’m not a classically schooled at this....only enjoying it all!

Such is the contrast to the very start..........this contrast causes both aspects of the beginning to contain even more a variation of perceived character. The Raptgo Hook-X has an unashamedly fun tuning. But thanks to its technical prowess, it has good resolution, a good soundstage, clarity and dynamics. It’s an IEM where the music comes first, in the form of its tonality and musical presentation. The effect is just hearing more. Especially this trait becomes known in the vocal areas. As when higher detail is arranged for the vocals you start to notice how many variations there are. They of course were always there except never revealed. The phenomenon that is super noticeable is pace. A single vent resides near the base of the nozzle. RAPTGO chose to go with standard 0.78mm 2-pin connectors which I prefer over the MMCX alternative. The connectors sit on the shell’s surface in a slightly raised and reinforced section. Because when well done, it’s all in the details. Then the drums again from the beginning are used. But they are actually the same drums used in other places. Just the fact that the drums are used in the song previously “Arena”............should be of no surprise. It’s as if these songs where cut up from a larger musical presentation, that in fact this whole thing all runs together like some giant live show! And not only that but “Arena” (the song prior) has the same DNA. There is a method here. A repeated theme with the drums. Still none of that takes away from the unique experience “Rinzler” is. The fact that this song has a pace emphasis where there is a give and take. Some kind of breathing is going on. It’s alive!

Not only violin sound marvelous, well resolve, and full-bodied but even the harp is properly presented, sure to achieve perfection I would have added a hint of brilliance and perhaps more boost past 10kz, but the notes well define, and pulling of strings have this clean snap and sense of openness permit long resonance enough, it's a realist and very musical, without overly boosted texture that would ruin the listen by adding an unwanted patch of string rubbing or vibration noise artifacts. Like the treble has now joined forces into the mids, that the bass (while still low) has now (also) joined the mids strangely enough. All is one! AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING:​The Raptgo Hook-X is surprisingly easy to drive even without the use of balanced source devices. I did not notice hiss with any of my devices. And while I can’t confirm the complete tuning variations between the different colored tips, I found the white and green ones closer to one another. The white has the same pleasing mids but with a slight boost in the treble area, while the green is slightly more relaxed in the bass and lower treble. Customers are to bear the consequences and fees incurred, if the parcel was undelivered due to any of the following situation:

This applies for most countries. However, large items such as headphones and desktop DAC/AMPs (e.g. HarmonicDyne G200, MUSICIAN MDP-2, and etc.) are excluded. Note weight in the treble area has body to it. At least that’s what I hear. Cymbals crash and not splash. Granted cymbals also play a lot in the upper mids but the decaying crash is not tizzy, but more focused. Instruments in my library never sound harsh or peaky. The extension of the Highs rolls off on a pretty nice downward slope to capture most information well. Percussion and even strings residing in the upper areas sound as they should with enough vibrancy for me. Stuff is detailed, crystal-clear and fast! Really fast! Maybe just slightly less physicality, but the trade off is nimbleness and agility!But more importantly I hear the bass emphasis that is the skeletal framework here......walking the pace. With Sony Hybrid Tips the bass is perfect and even slightly better than the included tips, in my opinion. Also any hint of that blanket of distortion making the HOOK-X sound almost low-res, has been removed. What happened was the “rough” midrange was lowered into the lower midrange and any hint of that fizzy/fuzzy stuff was pleasantly removed!

Here an older song results in a just "OK" sound, nothing special, or nothing bad. Some transducers gussy up the tones, though here we are left with the true reality of music. The TONALITY of the Hook X HBB can be summarized as a balanced W shape with a lively and weighty dynamic. It’s this kind of IEM that magnifies the best part of bass, mids, and highs and can offer a versatile performance that is never boring, unlike safer tuning that over-tamed energy of our beloved music.

Sound Impressions​

The white ear tips were used in the formulation of the sound impressions. How the sound is changed by swapping tips will be discussed separately. Summary