Fit
In terms of comfort, these monitors are exceptional. The monitors from Custom Art are designed to be small in size and have perfectly angled canal nozzles. This allows them to seamlessly fit into your ear and provide an optimal seal. The Hybrid 3 Pro fits snugly and securely to my ears, providing an excellent seal for a universal monitor.
The level of comfort is outstanding, and you can wear them for hours without any discomfort or need to remove them. Aside from my custom monitors, Custom Art makes the most comfortable universal monitors I have ever tested. I think it would be very difficult to find a universal IEM that fits better.
Sound
According to CA, the Hybrid 3 Pro is for vocalists, pro musicians and music enthusiasts. The result is indeed a very professional presentation, prioritizing neutrality, utmost balance and flatness. One can use the H3 Pro for studio monitoring or stage use. But if you like your sound as truthful or honest as possible, it is also a very enjoyable IEM to listen to.
In summary, the new H3 Pro is exactly as described by CA. It boasts impressive levels of detail, separation, and resolution, resulting in a flat and realistic sound that immerses you in a studio-like atmosphere. While being dead flat, the H3 Pro also maintains excellent technical qualities.
Neutral & Flat
If you’re seeking a studio-level approach with a neutral sound, the H3 Pro is an excellent option within the mid-fi IEM category. It offers a realistic and truthful audio experience, with good stereo imaging and tonality. In today’s booming IEM market, it’s refreshing to find a product that prioritizes tonal accuracy and a transparent sound signature.
The H3 Pro is not designed to provide a fun or bass-heavy listening experience. Instead, it delivers a reference-level sound with neutral midrange tones and a smooth, yet distinct treble. Its balanced sound signature, spanning from the bass to treble, makes it an ideal tool for studio and stage use. Surprisingly, it manages to be pleasing to the ears at the same time, with fantastic cohesiveness through and through.
The Hybrid 3 Pro to me is an audio device that features an impeccable balance between its bass, mids, and treble. The bass has a subtle yet noticeable impact, while the lower mids provide a smooth and seamless audio experience. The upper mid-range and treble are very resolving, which results in a clear presentation and an excellent sense of realism. Without a doubt, this is a professional-grade audio device that is very impressive in its precision and accuracy. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it though. When matched with a warm & natural sounding source like the A&K SE300 for instance, it sounds very satisfying overall.
Good Technicalities
The H3 Pro is not only a successful reference and flat monitor, but it also delivers impressive technical performance. The imaging department is particularly strong, although it may not be as sharp as some of the more neutral-sounding monitors due to its smoother and flowing tuning. Nevertheless, the stereo imaging is still excellent, with good layering, precision and detail.
This IEM may not have the broadest/vast sound or the most advanced technology available in the market, but it excels in these aspects and seamlessly combines them with its own balanced and neutral tuning. Its ability to retrieve details is particularly impressive for an IEM of this calibre. The detail retrieval is in the same league as the current flagship IEMs in the market.
From bass to treble, the definition is very good as well. This helps to have good coherency across the spectrum. It’s quite the opposite of the FIBAE 5 & 7 which have boosts in certain parts of the frequency response.
The new CA IEM is not something like an Etymotic ER4 though. It’s not that analytical. Sure, you have a very flat and colourless/dry tuning but it’s not an Etymotic type of presentation in my opinion. In its own modern tuning, you still get what you need in terms of neutrality, imaging and coherency with a realistic delivery, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. For example, the mid-range still packs great timbre with a good body, and the treble is not sharp whatsoever. The quality of smoothness and coherency this IEM provides is special.
Page 1: Intro and About the IEM
Page 3: More on Sound, Sources, Comparisons, Conclusion
