Hidizs MD4 – Review

Sound performance

My main sources were: FiiO KA2 / Hidizs AP80 Pro-X / ddHiFi TC44C, trusted sources from trusted brands that I used extensively for the past months.

Files were played from either Apple Music / Spotify or my own music library. Some tracks will be highlighted, just so you can try them home too!

Overall signature

It’s very strange to review two dramatically different priced IEM at the same time, the Hidizs MD4 being approximately 10 times less expensive than the Nostalgia Audio Camelot – that I adore. Still, for $200, this is a very, very cool IEM.

The sound is well-balanced, even if there’s a slight emphasis on the upper-range, but nothing too much, unless you’re really really sensitive to that. Dynamic range is wide  allowing more micro-details to shine at lower volume, and impactful mids at higher volume. Paired with a good source. I was equally impressed by how well the MD4 behaved, just paired with the small AP80 Pro-X, in single-ended mode.

Resolution and clarity are excellent, and the whole spectrum shows an impressive level of definition, especially with the regular “balanced” tuning mode. Highs can be a bit prominent at times even more with a DAC like the FiiO KA2, but paired with the ddHiFi TC44C, the result was more engaging, with tamed highs and softer mid-highs. On top of that, the little addition widens the sound – and not by a small margin – with enhanced details retrievals, as you would expect.

On the same note, bass is pretty solid here. With tracks like Universal Consciousness from Charlotte de Witte, the IEM displays a nicely controlled bass response, even more so if you trigger the “bass” tuning mode. The richness is impressive and quite frankly, for a full-BA IEM, Hidizs show some real prowess here, the crossover doing a great job at blending lows, mids and highs connected. Voices especially were given a lot of love and attention, and I was deeply impressed by how natural the mid-range came out, even when just paired with ddHiFi’s TC35i. 

Of course, perfection isn’t of this world – at least for now – and there’s still a few issues that should be addressed: highs can be a bit too forward sometimes, and depending on the source you’ll pair, voices can sound a bit artificial, missing the natural delay you hear in real life. That’s not an issue most of the time, but on bad recordings, never activate the “treble” mode – and contrary to what’s advertised on the Hidizs MD4 page, I’d not recommend those settings for electro music.

Add a potent source like the Hidizs AP80 Pro X + DH80 and the MD4 opens up really nicely. Mids are sharper and lows gain more weight, without infringing on the voices. Again, the transition between low, mids, and highs remains seamless and I listened classic tracks like Hysterias from SebastiAn, or vocal one like La Jeune Fille en Feu from Par One that confirmed my first impression.

Last but not least, I also tried complex tracks like Crash Landing from Illangelo which highlights the ear’s very good ADSR and solid dynamic range. A good example is Blaxploitation from Noname, whose polyphonic patterns surprises me every time, with the right IEM. 

All in all, this is very impressive and this new IEM feels like a solid alternative to my old FiiO FH5, with quicker transients and equally powerful lows and equally wide soundstage. Good job!

Tonality

Highs: crisp and clean. There is a little emphasis here but you won’t feel any harshness, nor fatigue over long listening. Everything sounds sharp and fast, even with a small DAP like the AP80 Pro-X, but if you want those untamed, you can, just activate treble mode and you’re in for quite a trip.

Good test-track:  Butter Chicken

Mediums: spaciousness and accuracy. The sound stage is very good and I really liked the final result, especially when paired with the TC44C. Precise mids, clean voices, razor-sharp mids, and the right amount of warmth give great results, and even with basic source, this IEM will work quite well. 

Good test-track: Rain Makes the River – Jazzanova

Bass: deep and strong. The MD4 is pretty impressive on the lower end, and activating the bass settings gave a funny result. Bass is there, well-defined, impactful and it never overtakes the mids and highs, in fact I would even dare to say that this model offers one of the most adequate 100Hz I heard, in this price range.

Good test-track : No Tech A*S*Y*S

Conclusion

For $199, the Hidizs MD4 is the perfect solution for anyone seeking a powerful IEM, with excellent low-end, crisp mids, and accurate highs. 

Build quality is superb, comfort is very good and, If I didn’t expect much from those ears at first, I became more and more hooked, the longer I kept them in my ears. The various settings really make a difference and, if the “Treble” and “Bass” ones are a bit too unnatural for my ears, the “Balanced” and “Warm” really seduced me.

Just get a good source, a balanced cable and you get an excellent bundle with a premium IEM, at low-end price. Kudos to the brand!